KEY POINTS:
What secondary school has produced the most All Black test captains? Most would assume it was a big-city school, such as Auckland Grammar or Christ's College. The answer, however, is Southland Boys High School.
It is such facts that the New Zealand Rugby Union should be mindful of whenever it is tempted to tamper with the rich heritage and passion of this country's provincial areas. When, say, it takes a step as drastic as axing Northland from next year's Air New Zealand Cup.
This country's rugby strength was founded on the strength of provincial rivalry. For years, it was the envy of other countries. Northland has more than played its part, producing players such as Peter Jones, the Going brothers and Ian Jones, and enjoying successful Ranfurly Shield tenures.
Regrettably, the rugby union began to tinker with the format more than a decade ago. The result has been ongoing devaluation and degradation.
Curiously, the demise of Northland and Tasman comes just as the present format shows signs of promise. The introduction of a salary cap was designed to produce closer matches by making smaller unions more competitive, thereby attracting greater crowds.
This has happened more quickly than might have been expected, with upsets this season including Manawatu's defeat of Canterbury and Waikato's humbling at the hands of both Tasman and Northland and drawing with Manawatu.
Hawkes Bay proved last year that the prospect of bigger crowds was not a pipe dream. People will flock to support a successful team, especially in areas where the community embraces a rich rugby history.
The standard of play may have dropped, largely because of the necessary absence of All Black players for much of the competition, but that does not diminish the level of enthusiasm.
The rugby union, however, seems unconvinced it has the formula right. Tasman put its hand up for demotion by self-destructing. Northland, however, seems to have been penalised mainly for racking up losses of more than $800,000 over the past two seasons.
But with other provinces, such as Bay of Plenty, also in financial difficulty, the rugby union has decided the present structure is unsustainable. This disregards the achievement of the likes of Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and Counties Manukau, which have worked profitably under that framework. It also ignores the value of further reducing the salary cap, one of the key proposals for a new format, which will give the likes of Northland a far better chance of balancing their books.
The bigger provinces will support the rugby union's proposals. There is, however, a strong element of self-interest in their wish to see the number of teams reduced. They have become accustomed to using their wealth and a sizeable salary cap to lure players from smaller unions, often with the carrot of a Super 14 contract. They have less of a free hand now and could have even less.
The rugby union seems adamant there must be a 12-team competition, partly because of the window available for the competition. Yet one further team, Northland, could surely be accommodated.
Rugby will not die in the province if it is demoted to the Heartland Championship, but it will certainly wither. The road back to the first tier, through a promotion-relegation fixture, offers no solace.
Second-class status is harsh and unnecessary treatment for a province with such a proud tradition. Only a body in danger of losing touch with what made this country a rugby power could propose it.
