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Tasman officials hope healed internal rifts will make it a more viable concern in next year's Air NZ Cup after being granted another lifeline by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).
Chief executive Peter Barr acknowledged Tasman was on "death row" before the NZRU today accepted a final
plea to avoid relegation from the premier 14-team competition.
Last Friday the debt-stricken union was told to remove the bulk of its $300,000 shortfall by today.
It was something Barr could guarantee through the help of some "close affiliates" of the Tasman Rugby Union, who have pledged to underwrite the sum and meet the 2009 budget of $3.2 million.
"It was 11th hour stuff really," Barr said.
"But it's our intention that we won't call on those underwrites.
"We will be making every effort to ensure that our own communities assist us in funding our activity and we survive on our own steam."
Barr hoped to receive considerably more support from the Marlborough rugby community, something that has been missing through the merged union's first three seasons.
An air of antagonism had existed between the sub unions, a divide forming because Marlborough believed Tasman was being poorly run and was of benefit only to Nelson Bays.
The sale of Blenheim's Lansdowne Park failed to stem the tide of red ink on the books and seven disheartened Marlborough clubs in July called on Marlborough to return to the second-tier Heartland Championship.
However, the peace pipe was smoked last month.
"We had a relationship to mend," Barr said.
"We're now totally unified and now that we've received the good news I'm sure the Marlborough community will get behind to assist with funding of rugby in the Marlborough area.
"We've had a large number of companies and individuals saying `if you can confirm your status, we'll support you'."
Tasman's prospects were gloomy at best on Friday when the NZRU declined Barr's request for extra support on top of the minimum $150,000 it shelled out to each of the Air NZ Cup unions.
"We were looking at death row, there's no question of that," he said.
"Through these very uncertain times we had to look at other avenues and underwriting was one of them."
It was the second culling Tasman survived this year, having escaped the axe in September after the NZRU fingered it and Northland for relegation when a reduced 12-team competition was recommended. Northland also survived.
"I'm totally relieved for the staff and the players who had to work and play through very uncertain times this year," Barr said.
"It now gives some certainty around careers and we can get and work positively on our rugby. The focus has been very much on the financial side of the business.
"And it keeps that aspirational pathway for kids to the top of New Zealand rugby."
NZRU general manager provincial union and community rugby Brent Anderson said it was important to recognise the effort made by all the stakeholders at Tasman, Nelson Bays and Marlborough to reach this stage.
"The Tasman board have also indicated to us that they will continue to work hard in their community to grow the revenue base to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the Tasman Union," Anderson noted.
Tasman threatened to go the way of the ambitious merger between then-second division unions Manawatu and Hawke's Bay who formed the Central Vikings in 1997.
Financial woes saw the Vikings disband before the start of the 1999 season after they earned promotion into Division One by winning the second division in 1998.
Tasman finished 13th in 2006, 11th in 2007 and reached the quarterfinals this year before being ousted by champions Canterbury.
They also pushed Wellington close in the year's final Ranfurly Shield challenge, coach Todd Blackadder's men leading late in the game before going down 20-26.
- NZPA
