The proposal proposed that each sub-union (Central, Eastern and Western Bay of Plenty) field the same number of teams in the Baywide premier competition, with four each.
The Baywide division one competition would also work off the same model. The proposal said if no agreement could be made, the Central and Eastern Bay clubs would leave the Baywide competition.
The proposal was aimed at getting fairer representation from across the Bay of Plenty into the top-tier competitions.
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has not resolved the proposal and has instead gone ahead with the status quo for next year.
Bruno Gardiner, president of Rotoiti, one of Rotorua's two premier rugby clubs, said it was a surprising decision by the union.
He said the Central Bay clubs were sticking together and still wanted to discuss changes to the competition for next season.
Gardiner said the last thing he had heard from the Bay union was that they would organise a meeting to talk with more local clubs.
"[But] we have heard nothing at all, we were supposed to hear back a couple of weeks ago," he said.
Gardiner said they would not simply agree to the the status quo.
"We have not changed our stance," he said. "As far as Rotoiti is concerned we still want to talk to them and we will not declare ourselves part of the premier competition [as it stands]."
Bay union chief executive Mike Rogers said the decision did not amount to calling the two smaller sub-unions' bluff.
"No, like I said in the information, all options were considered, a lot of consultation was undertaken with players and clubs ... ultimately the decision as it stands is what is in the best interest of Bay of Plenty Rugby and the clubs as a whole," Rogers said.
Currently there are four premier rugby clubs in Rotorua and the Eastern Bay, with six from the Western Bay.
The two Rotorua clubs, Whakarewarewa and Rotoiti, are standing alongside the proposal put forward in August.
Meanwhile, the two from the Eastern Bay (Opotiki and Paroa) have said they support the current 10-team premier competition.
However, even Opotiki president Barry Howe said he was shocked at the decision to keep the status quo. He said it meant Opotiki had to field a senior development team as well as their premier team.
He said they had specifically asked the union for changes in that area.
He said the clubs were the stakeholders of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and were often not listened to.
"I'm surprised that they are that arrogant," he said about the union. "We found it hard to get 50 guys to travel for games [this year]. We wanted to discuss that in terms of our development team."
Central Bay sub-union president Trevor Albert said the clubs would be holding a meeting on Tuesday to discuss where to go from here. He said they still wanted to discuss changes for the future with the union, but the Bay union were not coming on board.
"We are trying our darnedest to stay together but they are forcing our hand," he said.
Yesterday's release also stated that the Bay union would actively work with clubs to establish what would probably be a regional grade competition to capture school leavers and younger players not participating in other senior club teams.
The timing of the club final and the issue of double-headers will also be discussed at the coming board meeting.
