All clubs wanting to participate in the Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby competition next season will be given the opportunity to do so.
And just how many take up the offer will dictate the format of the competition itself. Those are the conclusions reached by the WBRFU's council of clubs and
revealed today by chairman Fergus Rutherford., who said there was unanimous agreement clubs must have the right to play in the premier grade if they were able to field a side. On present numbers that means the 2009 first division series could consist of 12 teams although it seems very unlikely Tuhirangi will be there. Featherston too are doubtful.
A 12-team competition would see teams play one full round of preliminary matches and then be divided into top six and bottom six with the former continuing to play off for the main championship, which would end with semi-finals and final. If there are 11 teams the format will be the same as above except the sides will be divided into top six and bottom five while 10 teams or less will see two full rounds of preliminary play followed by semi-finals and final.That would involve starting competition play on March 28 and ending on August 1.
Meanwhile, WBRFU chief executive officer Phil Taylor says preliminary discussions have been held with other Heartland unions with the objective of providing more meaningful pre-season matches for Wairarapa-Bush from 2009 onwards.
Taylor said the union's board was aware that playing games against teams the calibre of Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Manawatu no longer made sense because of the disparity in strength between them and Wairarapa-Bush, and other alternatives were being sought.
"We want games which are meaningful for both the teams involved and hopefully we can come up with something positive in that respect," he said.
