Heartland unions band together

Wairarapa-Bush are at the forefront of a move which has seen 12 of the country's Heartland championship unions band together to develop a closer working relationship.
The chief executive officers from four of the unions involved-Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui, West Coast and Mid-Canterbury- have the responsibility of organising meeting agendas and venues and ensuring there are no hiccups in the communication process.
"It's doesn't give us any greater say than any of the other unions, it's more of an administrative thing," Wairarapa-Bush CEO Phil Taylor said.
"Everybody is in on the act when decisions are being made, there is no difference between all of us in that respect."
Taylor believes there are several advantages in the move, foremost of which is to have the Heartland unions helping each other enhance rugby in their regions, especially from a financial viewpoint.
"It gives us the opportunity to share ideas and to market the game in a wider sense, " he said.
"For example we can look at sponsorship which covers all 12 of us, rather than battle away doing our own thing there.And that means advantages for sponsors and for us."
Taylor was not surprised that the Heartland championship played little part in discussions when an overview of New Zealand rugby was discussed at a meeting hosted by the NZRFU in Wellington last week.
"The general feeling was that if ain't broke then it doesn't need fixed," he said
At the same time though Taylor says Heartland unions were aware that if changes were made to the current Air NZ Cup competition then the Heartland championship could be affected.
"Obviously it's pretty much wait and see in that regard."
Taylor was happy, however, with the frankness of the discussions in Wellington and the determination of both the NZRFU and union representatives to see the sport progress in a positive fashion.
"I think you can say that all parties know there is room for improvement, it's just what those improvements amount to," he said.
Meanwhile, local club rugby will get under way this coming Saturday with Masterton Red Star's withdrawl meaning a bye in the senior first division competition.
They were to play Eketahuna at Memorial Park this weekend and therefore Eketahuna now has the bye in a first round which will see the two finalists from last season, Gladstone and Marist, meeting at Gladstone, East Coast at home to Greytown, Pioneer playing Puketoi at Pongoroa and Martinborough up against Carterton at
Martinborough.
The senior thirds draw has also been confirmed and is:Featherston v Pioneer at Featherston, Tuhirangi v Carterton at Tuhirangi, Masterton Red Star v Eketahuna at Memorial Park, East Coast v Greytown at East Coast and Gladstone v Marist at Gladstone
Only three Wairarapa-Bush clubs- East Coast, Pioneer and Greytown-have indicated they will be fielding colts teams this season and the Wairarapa-Bush union is still working through proposals which would have them participating in either the Wellington or Manawatu under-19 or colts grades.