Smaller unions welcome NPC revamp

A revamp of the NPC has been greeted with general approval by smaller provinces.

The review, announced by the New Zealand Rugby Union on Wednesday, will take the All Blacks out of the NPC and create two divisions - a 12-team first division and a second "amateur" division of up to 15 teams.

The NZRFU hopes to have the revamped season operating by 2006.

Several second division provinces have responded positively to the possibility of elevation to the first division - currently a 10-team competition.

Manawatu and this year's second division champions Hawkes Bay have already said they would push for first division status, and Marlborough have floated the possibility of merging with Nelson Bays for a combined bid to play at the top level.

Further down rugby's food chain, West Coast chairman Bill Leach has given a provisional thumbs up to the proposals.

"It is a pretty far-reaching document, but I'm positive about it and there was a real need for changes to be made," he said.

Leach said the review differed considerably from the much maligned Lochore Report released a few years ago.

"At least with this review, we [West Coast] are still in the competitions and there are no forced amalgamations."

Suggestions that smaller neighbouring unions - such as West Coast and Buller - should amalgamate have been raised before. However, the huge travelling distances required of players have ruled against such a move.

Wairarapa-Bush chairman Tony Beech said he did not see the union's existence being threatened.

"My initial thought is that Wairarapa-Bush will be okay, that it will be pretty much the status quo for us."

Marlborough chairman Peter Baker was delighted with the review, and did not rule out the option of a combined regional team in the first division.

"That would be an option. Division one is being expanded to 12 teams and there might be an opportunity for a combined Marlborough/Nelson Bays side.

"Combined teams don't always work and the rugby people of Marlborough would have to decide if they want to be in the top echelon, which is the professional arm of the game."

Hawkes Bay chief executive Ian Condon said his province stood a great chance of making it into the expanded first division.

"Basically we have to perform on the paddock next year because I'm confident we can meet the off-field criteria to make that step up to the premier division."

Manawatu chairman Ian McAffer was equally bullish.

Unions would have to fulfil a raft of criteria to make the jump to division one - from playing numbers, to facilities and governance - and he could not see the province failing on any of them.

"It's fair to say from Manawatu's view this is a positive step forward," he said.."

Mid Canterbury chief executive Peter MacGregor expected the competition would be more even and better structured than before.

- NZPA