Wynne Gray: Poor cousin deserves better from rugby union

The NPC has had a ripper start but it's set for a messy end because of the All Blacks.

They have three tests in the next 12 weeks - the same period in which the NPC will work through their round robin phase before the alleged bottom four cull by the NZRU.

That slim test programme means All Blacks will be ducking in and out of the competition to suit their fitness, match hardening and national training camp requirements.

At the whim of national selectors, teams will be helped or hindered by All Blacks' availability.

Then with the semifinals and finals to run, the All Blacks will be gone - about 32 of them. That exit will have a massive impact on the NPC conclusion.

The New Zealand Rugby Union, apparently, has little control over their test programmes.

There are in-bound tours in June, a trip to Europe in November and the Tri-Nations slots in somewhere from July to September.

Around that, the NPC is treated like a poor cousin, although crowds and interest this season are doing their best to show the NZRU it deserves better.

The All Blacks were not going to play in the next few weeks before their performances in Africa persuaded the selectors that half the engorged squad needed to play at least one game before the next test in Sydney.

After the Tri-Nations finishes in late September, the All Blacks will be available for five rounds of the provincial championship before they leave for Tokyo and all other commercial points beyond.

Fringe All Blacks will want to play in the NPC to confirm or improve their chances of making the end-of-year tour. That is understandable and all very well for them and perhaps their teams. But you wonder about the cost to a competition which had a vigorous start and has made a valuable reconnection with some of the disfranchised rugby communities.

So ditch the annual Tri-Nations or at least shift it and let the NPC breathe.

We don't know if the NPC will continue to thrive but it's made a good start and should be given some space.