Rugby: Decision sought over Cup future

The future of Steamers players like captain Colin Bourke may be affected by the NZRU decision. Photo / Getty Images

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union wants a decision on the future of the Air New Zealand Cup when the provinces meet in Wellington on Friday.

It's understood the decision on reducing the competition from 14 to 10 teams was to be made at the New Zealand Rugby Union's board meeting on Thursday.

However, there is speculation it will either be put on hold for another year or changed again - and that worries Bay of Plenty chief executive Jeremy Curragh.

"Our expectation is we're being given the [competition] decision and it's important we're given some certainty so we can plan accordingly," Curragh told The Daily Post.

He acknowledged that certainty was going to be hard to get given the player negotiations were ongoing.

"I guess I go down there with some scepticism," he added, following a newspaper report revealing the Players Association is backing the retention of a 14-team format next year and two divisions of seven in 2011. Those recommendations wouldn't appear to address the concerns the Bay and other unions tabled in the past.

Curragh said Bay of Plenty's concerns were "the common problems", including financial sustainability, player consideration, club and competition windows. These, he said, were all "still main issues".

"Whatever decision is made on Thursday or Friday needs to address those issues because, while we've had a fantastic year this year, I guess I'm not convinced that's going to be the way for the next few years."

This year's competition created more interest and crowds than in the past and there were a number of topsy turvey results.

Because of that, many public and rugby figures called for no change but Curragh believes it's imperative a clear decision is made for the future of the game.

"We're getting caught up in a bit of an emotional wave and while it seems a bit callous, it's going to be more damaging if we don't get it right to more provincial unions in the long term."

Any future competition also has to satisfy the feeder union requirement for a healthy Super 14 structure in New Zealand. Too many teams would dilute the quality of player and administration resources, creating a big step up to Super rugby. The Player Association model beyond 2011 would mean the top seven provinces, based on next year's Air New Zealand Cup finishing positions, would regularly play each other while the others would effectively be in a second tier competition.

- THE DAILY POST