The team was determined by a collation of votes awarded in a 3-2-1 system across each match of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, with players eligible to be selected in the position in which they played the majority of their games.
The top-ranked players from each position were then selected for the Team of the Year, with one curious result - there would be 16 final selections rather than 15 because of a tie that could not be broken.
Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson (29 votes) were all tied for the third back row position behind Tom Hooper (31 votes) and Player of the Year Ardie Savea (46 votes), with the sole tiebreaker being the most 'three vote' performances.
That saw Gleeson (four times) drop out, but McReight and Tizzano (five each) could still not be separated and were therefore included in a four-man back row.
Australian players made up one-half of the 16-man side as a reflection of what has been one of the finest Super Rugby seasons in recent memory for the Aussie franchises, two of whom (Brumbies and Reds) made the finals.
The balance of the side in terms of teams represented certainly raised some eyebrows on social media, with McKenzie the only Chiefs player and not a single Crusaders player selected, whilst non-finalists Western Force ended up with three of the 16 chosen.
Super Rugby Pacific 2025 Team of the Year:
Props: Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs)
Hooker: Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua)
Second rowers: Jeremy Williams (Western Force), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)
Back rowers: Tom Hooper (Brumbies), Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika), Carlo Tizzano (Force), Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds)
Scrum half: Cam Roigard (Hurricanes)
Fly half: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Centres: Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders), AJ Lam (Blues)
Wingers: Harry Potter (Force), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes)
Fullback: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs)