Northland tipped to retain spot in revamped NPC 

Northland looks to have secured its place in the country's top provincial rugby competition.

A New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) source said Northland will be part of the new professional rugby competition set to replace the NPC.

The NZRU is tight-lipped about the make-up of the teams that will make up the revamped NPC.

However, there are strong suggestions the NZRU has backed down from original plans for a 12-team premier grade funded in the most part by the NZRU, and decided to opt for a 14-team premier grade instead.

If so, that means all 14 provinces who tabled bids for inclusion in the premier grade have been accepted, promoting second division provinces Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Counties-Manukau and introducing Tasman, a combined bid from the Nelson Bays and Marlborough provinces.

Last month a Northland Rugby Union (NRU) delegation, spearheaded by former All Blacks halfback Sid Going, presented Northland's case for inclusion in the proposed new professional first division provincial competition.

Before a panel of NZRU directors, and watched by both the NZRU chief executive Chris Moller and his deputy Steve Tew, Northland presented a half hour submission in support of a 300-page document they hoped would see Northland included in the new competition.

The 14 bidding for professional status are: Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson Bays- Marlborough (or Tasman), Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

The basic premier division criteria includes population -- both current and forecast figures, player and club numbers, training and development structures, whether bidders have academies, team management structure, playing history, financial position and the calibre of a bidder's governance and administration. On all criteria Northland ranks among the top 10 in New Zealand.

The NZRU has said the new competition will be locked in for three years once the make-up had been determined. The decision as to who will be included in the new fully professional competition and who will be overlooked is not due until tomorrow.

- nzpa