Counties want bigger NPC first division competition

By CHRIS RATTUE

Counties Manukau are calling for an enlarged NPC first division, in opposition to moves that would see the five main provinces forming a breakaway competition.

The second division Steelers also believe the top division should exclude present All Blacks and have a draft to level out the playing strengths.

Counties Manukau chief executive Daniel Clifford says his union told the competition review committee that it believes a 12-team first division should include themselves and Hawkes Bay.

Rugby would suffer if small unions were swept aside because pockets of support and development would be lost.

The Steelers' drop to the second division has devastated their junior development and Clifford said a player lsuch as Joe Rokocoko could have been missed by rugby under the present situation.

It was revealed last week that proposals before the New Zealand Rugby Union's review committee include a breakaway division of three Australian teams plus Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.

NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller said the proposal was one of many, and the NZRFU would not indulge in "philanthropic" gestures towards Australia.

But smaller New Zealand unions such as Counties Manukau were running scared, and Clifford said Counties Manukau would be left in a "perilous" position if the proposal came to fruition.

"The suggestion is that the major unions are pushing for an elite, breakaway division," Clifford said.

"They have big stadiums to fill and want to centralise sponsorship, gate takings and media attention. It would leave us in a pretty perilous position.

"And a player like Joe Rokocoko, who came from Weymouth before going to Auckland on a school scholarship, might have ended up playing league if Counties Manukau had been in its present position six or seven years ago."

Clifford said Counties Manukau should be able to continue fielding an NPC side, but junior representative teams, plus club and school rugby, were hit hard by the union's relegation in 2001.

Sponsorship had dropped from $1 million to $600,000 a year, with the union now almost solely depending on gaming machine handouts.

Cost-cutting meant just one of six development officers remain, and another covers all the primary schools in Counties Manukau and Thames Valley.

Clifford said: "There are large areas we can't support at all - places like Weymouth, Clendon Park and Takanini, which are rapidly-growing urban subdivisions.

"Professional rugby has been a negative for this union because of centralisation. We know we have the population and inherent strength [to be a force]."

* Otahuhu lock Tarris Chi-Tar makes his Steelers debut against Nelson Bays in Nelson today. Chi-Tar, who is headed to the Papakura club, played for third division King Country last season.

Nelson Bays: Robbie Malneek, Lucky Mulipola, Aaron Kimura, Didean Malifa, Colin Bisley, Ross Soper, Tyson Keats, Mark Bright, Craig Simeon, Rowan O'Gorman, Nathan Burgess, Kahu Marfell, Shane Parata, Gavin Briggs (capt), Daniel Muller. Res: Kris Williams, Joni Nacagilevu, Tere Wycliff, Francis Meredith; Seta Sauira, Mark Milne, Tito Elisara.

Counties Manukau: Sailosi Takicakibau, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Niva Ta'auso, Robinson Avei, Mark Lawson, Stephen Donald, Kevin Farrell, Waka Setitaia, Tevita Finau, Aaron Enoka, Ramon Lindsay (capt), Tarris Chi-Tar, Dennis Hazelton, Grant Henson, Dave Stewart. Res: Andrew Va'a, James Afoa, Kevin Busby, Craig Glendinning; Joseph Heta, Simon Porter, Tui Taufo'o.

Referee: Kevin Rowe.

Kickoff: 2.30pm

* In other division two matches today, Thames Valley host Hawkes Bay at Waihi, Mid Canterbury play Manawatu at Ashburton and Marlborough meet East Coast at Blenheim.

* The highlight of the third division will be the clash between unbeaten sides West Coast and Wanganui at Westport. Poverty Bay travel to Masterton to play Wairarapa-Bush, King Country host South Canterbury at Te Kuiti, and Buller are at home to Horowhenua Kapiti at Westport.