Rugby: TV deal vital for new Cup

Chris Jack has signed with Tasman, despite the team's possible demotion. Photo / Dean Purcell

Striking a broadcast deal for the soon-to-be-formed provincial first division is non-negotiable if the revamp is to gain support from the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.

The New Zealand Rugby Union is planning to demote four teams from the provincial championship's current premier division into a new mid-tier competition with two Heartland unions.

The NZRPA has backed the decision to alter the competition from next year but only if strict conditions are met. Top of the list is making sure the first division has broadcast exposure so players can be convinced they can still win Super 14 selection if they stick with a lower-ranked province.

"That is crucial," says NZRPA boss Rob Nichol. "We have bought into the principles but we need to see a number of conditions met if this competition is going to be meaningful.

"If there is no broadcast coverage, it will have serious commercial ramifications. And for our members, it will impact upon their desire to play for certain unions. They have to believe that they can make Super 14 selection. There has to be a pathway and if there is no broadcast coverage, then will they be seen by coaches?

"Our feedback is overwhelming - if the competition is meaningful and the players can be sure they still have the same chance of making Super 14, then they will stick with their provinces."

That has already proven the case with Chris Jack and Ben Franks signing with Tasman and Aaron Cruden staying with Manawatu.

But Nichol also says it's imperative that funding remains in place for high performance and academy programmes. The NZRPA have pushed to have one automatic relegation and promotion places each year.

This thinking is driven by the idea that the new competition - which will kick in next year - is not viewed as two separate divisions. Nichol and the players say the new format will work only if viewed as a 16-team competition split into two divisions.

The two have to be treated equally in terms of broadcasting, player contracting and funding so there is genuine possibility of teams climbing to the higher level.

"I think the prospect of two up and two down automatically will give the competition real edge," says Nichol.

"For those teams in the first division, there will be the real prospect of promotion and for those in the premier division, there will be the prospect of going down to keep them on their toes."

The NZRPA has become an increasingly powerful body and will not back down.

Nichol says if agreement can't be reached around the non-negotiables, then there is a fallback, as negotiations have begun around extending the players' collective.

The collective negotiations with the NZRU would be the forum for the NZRPA to push for what it feels needs to happen.

That battle may have to take place as there is no certainty that a broadcast deal will be found for the first division.

Sky is already stretched to cover seven games in a weekend - which has sometimes been eight when the All Blacks have been playing.

While rugby has been a major driver of Sky subscriptions, the logistic pressure and expense of covering so many games, as well as the potential to saturate the market, could leave the broadcaster lukewarm over a deal with the first division.

There is also likely to be a reluctance from the bigger unions to agree to a format that allows two automatic relegation places each year.

Given the ailing form of some of the so-called major provinces, there is not unanimous desire to see such free-flow between the two divisions.

A scenario of one automatic promotion place and one available through a playoff with the team that finished ninth in the premier division would be a minimum requirement.

With so many hurdles to be cleared and so many risks involved in creating what will effectively become a 16-team provincial championship, there is a case to be made for leaving things just how they are.

Nichol says that would be fine for the players in 2010 but real problems would begin after that. When Super 14 expands to Super 15, that competition will run from the third week of February to the middle of August.

The players would then move straight into a 15-week provincial championship that wouldn't end until late November. They are entitled to a month off which would see them report back for Super 15 duty in early January with just seven weeks of preparation time.

That would not gain approval from Nichol, who says it would be unsustainable and potentially dangerous for the players to have such a long season without adequate rest and preparation time.