Provincial unions get help

The New Zealand Rugby Union is injecting an extra $8 million into its provincial unions to prop up next year's new NPC competitions.

The main beneficiaries are the four second-division teams named to contest the inaugural premier competition next year - Counties-Manukau, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and Tasman (the combined Nelson Bays and Marlborough team) - as well as struggling Northland.

Four of those sides will receive over $600,000 each, while Tasman have been allocated $480,000 plus individual payments to Nelson Bays ($65,180) and Marlborough ($35,660). Northland top the payment list with $660,340, followed by Counties-Manukau's $653,100.

The provincial unions, which will have received $14.7 million this season, were told of the extra grants yesterday.

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs said the payment was to help the lesser unions in the new premier division catch up with the top sides over the first three years.

- NZPA