KEY POINTS:
If Tasman is to survive in the Air NZ Cup Marlborough and Nelson Bays clubs will have to make that call, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew said today.
Tasman, due to be culled from the cup, received a conditional two-year reprieve from the NZRU board last Friday.
The main condition was that it proved its financial viability.
However, the uneasy relationship between the Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub-unions appeared to be a bigger hurdle to overcome.
Tew indicated the NZRU had been told by Marlborough grassroots rugby that they wanted Tasman to survive so players in the region could play at the highest domestic level.
But Marlborough chairman Peter Heagney told NZPA yesterday the sub-union believed Air NZ Cup should be reduced from 14 to nine teams, which would more accurately reflect the population and resources.
The board of the Marlborough sub-union were to meet tonight to discuss their options.
Tew told Radio Sport it would be impossible for Nelson Bays to go it alone in the Air NZ Cup.
"The critical mass Marlborough brings to the Tasman union is significant," he said.
"Nelson Bays we don't believe is big enough to sustain in this competition - even in a combined effort they have struggled to survive in this competition."
Tasman needed a $340,000 loan from the NZRU to compete in this year's Air NZ Cup, where it is currently 10th in the standings.
- NZPA
