NPC RUGBY: We only get one shot says Hunt

Shane Hurndell
"Do or die" ... that's how Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Hunt sees the province's quest for NPC premier division status next year.
"If it doesn't happen next year we're stuffed. Plan A must work because Plan B won't," Hunt said.
The veteran of 147 games for the Magpies between 1967 and '83 said if his union's application doesn't receive the thumbs up from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) in April the Magpies face the threat of playing in a revamped first division.
"Next year's first division won't even be as good as the second division one we're in now. There will be no promotion-relegation and it's likely to be divided into zones which would mean the Magpies would only be playing against other non-premier division teams in the Central Region ... a bit like what the Havelock North Wanderers soccer side do," he said.
The national body is planning a 12-team premier division which would be closed for three years. So if Hawke's Bay's bid was unsuccessful the Magpies would have to wait for another three years before their application could be reconsidered.
"By then it would be too late. We're fortunate to have retained most of our talented youngsters in recent years but if we're unsuccessful next year they will be gone and we will struggle to meet the criteria next time around," Hunt said.
"This is why I would like to see a 14-team premier division. If 14 teams meet the criteria they should be allowed to play," said the former Magpies coach. He said while the national body sees Hawke's Bay as the 11th ranked team among the applicants (all unions who want to be in the division must apply) he doesn't believe there is a "pecking order."
"All unions have strengths and weaknesses in terms of meeting aspects of the criteria - stadia, player numbers, population base, player numbers, finances etc but Hawke's Bay has a lot to offer a team in this division," Hunt said.
After talks with NZRU officials Hunt sees two major advantages for teams which get the nod for the premier division - a fairer distribution of the country's top players and a Salary Cap which would contribute to a more even playing field.
All premier division teams within a Super 12 franchise region will receive an even distribution of Super 12 players. To be eligible for the Super 12, players must be playing in the NPC and must play up to 50 percent of the games.
"This will prevent the bigger unions like Canterbury stacking up top players and not using them as is the case now. The NPC will be a lot more even and in the long run the All Blacks will benefit as our top players will have hard fought games week in and week out," Hunt said.
"A premier division like this will create more interest everywhere. It will be like the NRL where you're never sure who will win one week from the next," Hunt said referring to the world's toughest rugby league competition.
Hunt stressed the importance of the whole province supporting the union's application.
"This isn't just a HBRFU bid. Here's an opportunity for everyone in the province to be involved and there will be spin offs for everyone who supports it.
"We only get one shot at it and like I said ... it's do or die," Hunt emphasised.