Rugby: Provinces voice concerns over Super rugby

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has another faction to consider when the future of Super rugby is finalised over coming weeks.

Nine provincial unions have reportedly expressed "grave concerns" for the future of the domestic New Zealand game in a letter to the NZRU obtained by The Dominion Post newspaper.

The four-page letter airs the concerns of the Counties-Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Northland, Tasman, Southland, North Harbour, Taranaki, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay unions.

Those unions are concerned at the move towards an expanded Super rugby season, further devaluing the provincial Air NZ Cup.

The five other Air NZ Cup unions that are Super 14 bases - Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago - are not represented on the letter.

Diminishing New Zealand crowds in this year's Super 14 "clearly illustrates that Super rugby is a tired concept," the letter says.

It requests the NZRU extend the present Sanzar broadcasting agreement by just one year until the end of 2011, providing extra time to get the input and support of the provinces.

"The group is concerned that if NZRU dumb down the ANZC as reflected in the financial modelling produced to date then rugby in New Zealand, as we currently know it, will be stuffed by the 2019 World Cup," the letter reportedly says.

The nine union chairmen are to meet the national board tonight to discuss their concerns, on the eve of the NZRU's annual meeting in Wellington.

NZRU chairman Hobbs said many of the concerns in the letter are misplaced.

"We are not prepared to compromise our domestic competitions," he said.

- NZPA