Rugby: Central club suffering lack of numbers

Central Hawke's Bay Rugby and Sports Club committee member Tony Lepelaars, left, and chairman Tony Mackie during another crisis chat. Photo / Warren Buckland

"Mayday mayday ... we're in crisis mode down in Central Hawke's Bay too."

This was the message from Central Hawke's Bay Rugby and Sports Club committee member Tony Lepelaars last night.

A fortnight after Eskview Rugby Club's officials sidestepped the threat of permanent closure and two years after the Porangahau club failed to field their sole afternoon grade team, Lepelaars pointed out the Central club's number of afternoon grade teams may drop from four to two this season and the club is also desperately short of coaches, managers and committee members.

"We've got enough players for a women's team and a premier reserve grade team but, at this stage, the number of premier players is a bit on the thin side and we'll be lucky to field a colts side,' Lepelaars said.

He has stepped down from his premier team manager's role to focus on the club's survival mission. "The lack of player numbers is a reflection of the state of the economy in the rural areas. The labour force isn't as big as it used to be ... there aren't the same number of shepherds on stations as there were 10 years ago and there aren't the number of apprenticeships down here like there used to be," Lepelaars explained.

Unless the club can find five premier grade front rowers Central may withdraw from the Nash Cup competition which starts on March 28.

"Most of premier reserve graders don't want to go up to premiers.

"A lot of them have been there and consider themselves too old for premier play. The reason our colts are short of numbers is because five from last year's team have offered to bolster the premier side's numbers.

"At this stage the premier team is without a manager and backs coach too," Lepelaars said.

Club officials will monitor Tuesday and Thursday night training turnouts before making a final decision related to the number of afternoon grade teams they enter on March 16.

"Last year we had 40 players training at this time of the year for our two premier grade teams. This year we've got 25. We knew it was a crisis situation on the Tuesday before last ... traditionally that's when it's all go as players who didn't want to play sevens turn up but it wasn't all go like past years," Lepelaars said.

Central were Hawke's Bay's colts champions in 2013 but, unless six or seven players and coaches are found, the club will withdraw from the grade.

On the administration front, Lepelaars said the club just managed to have a quorum at its annual meeting.

"We've got seven committee members but would like at least 12 so it's not the same skeleton crew doing the same jobs all the time. Twelve would be the ideal number if we end up with four afternoon grade teams."

An April 13 meeting will determine the number of committee members for the season.

Lepelaars said it was likely Central will field nine morning grade teams this year.