Midweek fixtures on cards

Serious consideration is being given to trialling Monday or Thursday night football in next year's NPC.

That is because the expanded NPC programme has left the NZRU with the option of going outside the established weekend window or to sanction a fixture list where games overlap.

Discussions between the NZRU and SKY TV about scheduling for the 2006 NPC are understood to have examined a range of possibilities.

SKY, who own the broadcasting rights, say they are reluctant to agree to a schedule where games overlap.

If they get their way, that will leave the NZRU with a massive challenge to fit the weekly programme across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Currently there are five games each week but, with 14 teams in next year's competition, there will be six games each week in the first round. For three weeks during the second round, seven games will have to be played before reducing back to six.

For the last few years games have had five time slots - 7.35pm on Friday night, 2.35pm on Saturday, 5.35pm and 7.35pm on Saturday night and 2.35pm on Sunday.

This year, with the two home All Black Tri Nations tests taking the 7.35pm Saturday window, there were a couple of Sundays where there were back-to-back games with the first kicking off at 12.30pm.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said anecdotal feedback from unions has been negative in regards to the 12.30pm Sunday slot, making it almost certain that it will not be viewed as a potential window for 2006.

"We have looked at a range of possibilities for next season and are working with our broadcast partner and the provincial unions," said Tew.

"There is appeal in trying to build a brand such as Monday Night football the way NFL has in the States. But it's not just a case of trying to fit one Monday night or Thursday night game into the schedule. "You have to think through the impact in terms of the players' rest periods and the effect on attendances."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY