Rugby: Southland face NPC threat

Southland's status as a first division rugby province is under threat again.

North Island provinces stuck in the second division have begun a push to replace Southland next year, and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union board is likely to make a decision next month.

Rugby Southland chief executive Roger Clark was adamant yesterday that Southland would remain in the first division, in spite of the Stags' poor record over the past three seasons.

But opposition to Southland is mounting, and the NZRFU has called for all provincial unions to justify their claims for first division status.

All New Zealand unions have been given 21 days following the NPC finals to put forward their claims.

Provinces are to be judged on competitiveness (45 points), financial viability (40 points) and registered players under their control (15 points), with the minimum score for first division status being 70 and a minimum 30 points in the financial viability section.

A team's playing record, points and tries for and against, junior teams and transferred and loan players in and out will be judged to determine a team's competitiveness.

Southland's record in competitiveness is not good. They have won just three games in the past three years - two at the beginning of the 1998 season, and a sole victory this year against Counties.

However, Clark, in Wellington for a NZRFU meeting, said he was confident Southland would stay in the first division.

"We meet all the criteria and though the team is struggling at the moment, we have been very competitive in some of our games," he said.

"Sure, we would like to have a few wins to show for it, but until the last two games we have been right there.

"But it's just not the senior team who are examined. They will also look at age group, colts, the development squad ... and we stack up pretty well, as we do in playing numbers.

"Financially we are fine, as is our business infrastructure and governance, and after our meeting the NZRFU will be given all the data they require before I come back home.

"There is no need for us to wait six weeks before doing anything."

Clark also said some unions favoured having 12 first division teams next year, while others wanted fewer, but he doubted that would be entertained.

Some northern coaches, including King Country's Noel McQuilkin, have been critical of the NZRFU's reluctance to make an early decision on the 2001 format.

King Country are well placed in the second division, but McQuilkin complained that teams had no idea what they were playing for.

With the promotion-relegation format shelved since 1997, lower division teams have been left wondering how they can improve their ranking.

"After winning a division, it should be a union's prerogative if it wanted the option of promotion," McQuilkin said.

Unbeaten Bay of Plenty would be a prime promotion contender. They have been the outstanding side of the second division, which they lead by three points from Hawkes Bay and seven from King Country.

- NZPA