The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is planning to keep the status quo for next season's club competitions despite threats from delegates that Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty clubs would consider going it alone without greater representation.
In a statement yesterday, the union said that, at a special board meeting on Wednesday it had decided to make no changes to the competition format or composition.
The announcement of the decision to stick with 10-team competitions is at odds with a Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty proposal calling for each sub-union to be represented by four teams in both the premier and division one competitions.
That proposal stated that if fairer representation was not accepted by the rugby union, Eastern and Central Bay clubs would leave the Baywide competition and start their own intercity competition.
Union chief executive Mike Rogers said the decision did not amount to calling the two smaller sub-unions' bluff.
"No, like I said in the information, all options were considered, a lot of consultation was undertaken with players and clubs ... ultimately the decision as it stands is what is in the best interest of Bay of Plenty Rugby and the clubs as a whole," Rogers said, before adding the union would adopt a wait-and-see approach ahead of the next board meeting on October 20.
"If everyone is comfortable with that structure then to us there is no issue."
Rogers did not want to speculate on whether players from Central and Eastern Bay would transfer to Western Bay clubs if the Baywide competition was to fall over.
But he said clubs in those areas were far from in agreement over the best course of action.
"There is a disconnect between some of the, I guess, advocates for change who have indicated that they've got the support of all those clubs.
"From my point of view, and the conversations we've had, there are a number of clubs that don't agree with that stance."
He said it was in the best interests for all clubs to remain part of the Baywide competition and that it was not realistic to have each of the 39 clubs in the province in agreement over the ideal competition structure.
The release is the latest development in a standoff that has been developing, in one way or another, since the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union was moved from Rotorua to Tauranga more than a decade ago.
Feelings of resentment on behalf of the Central and Eastern clubs have been building as the standard of rugby outside the Western Bay of Plenty has continued to slip.
A paucity of Eastern and Central players in this year's Steamers squad and Whaka-rewarewa's displeasure at playing the Baywide club final at Tauranga Domain despite qualifying in a higher position than fellow finalists Mount Maunganui, have only added to the disconnect between the sub-unions.
The relationship broke down further at a meeting in Tauranga in August, at which the Central and Eastern delegates tabled a proposal asking for better representation of their clubs in the Baywide premier and division one competitions.
The premier competition for next season includes six teams from the Western Bay and only two each from the Central Bay (Whakarewarewa and Rotoiti) and Eastern Bay (Opotiki and Paroa), with premier clubs required to field a development team and first division clubs forced to field a second team.
The release also stated the rugby union will actively work with clubs to establish what would likely be a regional grade competition to capture school leavers and younger players not participating in other senior club teams.
The timing of the club final and the issue of doubleheaders will also be discussed at the upcoming union board meeting on Monday, October 20.