Rugby: Compromise brings good outcomes

Baywide club rugby will continue to showcase the region's best players after agreement was reached this week on a new competition format. Photo / File

The compromise reached by delegates from each of the three Bay of Plenty sub-unions has been universally applauded by clubs and union officials throughout the region's far-flung borders.

Opotiki's Tony Howe says they all resolved to come away with a good outcome. "We all proved we can get together and come up with workable formats that don't need board interference," he said. "In the eastern and central alliance we wanted a later start because we weren't interested in playing competitive rugby in mid-March. A compromise was that we delayed the start till the second of May, hence the one round local competition.

"From our perspective that was something that Western Bay conceded to us. They were adamant the development sides should be involved in the Baywide competition. We were against that but conceded because we got the later start which was our main one."

Former Steamers player and coach Ron Preston was part of the Central region's delegation. He is a big fan of the new format with four teams having a chance to move up to premiers each year.

"It gives them all an even chance of making premier division rather than the old system where the bottom premier team dropped down and the top team went up," Preston said. "This format gives four teams a chance to make premiers each year. It is just a fairer system I think and it will bear fruit in the years to come."

Western Bay delegate Vaughan Bidois is both pleased and relieved. "It is positive in the sense everyone can agree the outcome is the best for everyone for Bay rugby in terms of unity with the three sub-unions working together," he said.

Bay of Plenty Rugby chief executive Mike Rogers was delighted the three groups were committed to a unified competition. "The new competition format of the three eights alleviates concerns around pathways and promotion relegation, which has been a real issue for us," Rogers said. "If you look at Rangiuru and Paroa as examples, they have come up and down. The top teams will still play the top teams across the Bay of Plenty and that is what everyone wanted but it still retains that aspirational pathway for our clubs."

Rogers is well aware of issues yet to be resolved raised by Eastern Bay and Central Bay clubs.

"We have to do a better job and our clubs have to do a better job to attract players. These things will take time and the club competition will not fix all the challenges our clubs face."

Rogers says regional coach development and administration support resources will be based in the Eastern Bay and Central Bay from next year to support clubs and schools in those areas.