Rugby: Marginal clubs hope to avoid chop

The Northland union is among those confident of remaining in the provincial competition. Photo / Northern Advocate

New Zealand rugby's reprieved provinces Northland and Tasman are confident they will not be positioned under the guillotine when they attend yet another workshop to address the provincial competition.

The future of the domestic competition comes in for further scrutiny in Wellington at a two-day meeting next week, with next year's structure no longer set in stone.

Officials from all unions and their New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) counterparts will discuss a variety of issues surrounding the competition format, number of teams, promotion/relegation and the salary cap.

It comes three weeks after the nine Air NZ Cup unions which are not Super 14 bases, dubbed the G9, expressed "grave concerns" over moves towards an expanded Super rugby season.

They believe it would further devalue a domestic competition which was struggling under the weight of the economic climate.

Several forums have been held in recent years addressing the competition's structure, with solutions at times resulting in acrimony and backflips.

Late last year the NZRU decided to retain a 14-team competition after having recommended the removal of two teams. It had fingered Northland and Tasman for relegation, mainly on financial grounds.

Both unions successfully challenged the decision but they and others will be wary that the number of teams is on next week's agenda.

Northland chairman Andrew Golightly had a sense of deja vu when he learned of the meeting.

"That is in the back of the mind, in terms of what we went through last year," he said.

The Northland community was stirred into action, sponsors were found and the threat of legal action lingered in the background.

"It really galvanised feelings here. It just shows you the depth of passion that is there for provincial rugby," Golightly said.

Tasman chief executive Peter Barr was hopeful his union, a merger of Nelson Bays and Marlborough, had proven its case to stay.

It was in "much better shape" financially then last year although costs were continually being cut.

He said next week was an important chance to address financial challenges facing most unions.

Barr and Golightly hope 14 teams can be retained in a sustainable competition but wonder whether the public might tire of the constant reviews.

This year's Air NZ Cup will go ahead as planned with a full round of matches. That had been planned for 2010 but was no longer a certainty.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said a shorter competition would be discussed and the prospect of a reduction in teams would be "up front on the agenda".

The level of funding required to support the competition and its unions will be considered as well as the consequence of poor financial performance.

- NZPA