Rugby: Domestic rugby details to be released next week

The future shape of domestic rugby competitions in New Zealand has been outlined after a two-day workshop in Wellington, with details to be released next week.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew and Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chairman Bruce Cameron said yesterday the workshop involving the top 14 unions, second-tier Heartland unions and players' association representatives had ticked off a number of important boxes.

"The process has just begun, not completed but we think we have made some real progress and created some real momentum," Tew said. "There's a view that the change we believe is necessary can now be achieved."

With financial structures crumbling at some of the top 14 unions, the NZRU had tried to cut the number of teams to 12 last year but had to back down after a revolt.

However, the unions decided to return to the table to consider the format, number of teams, promotion/relegation, salary cap and the impacts of any change at this week's workshop.

Costs and the level of funding to support the competition and participating provincial unions were also on the agenda, as well as the consequence of poor financial performance.

Tew said the unions had endorsed a set of objectives, attributes and principles for the competitions.

The key ones were that the competitions must:

Include Super rugby players.

Have a stand-alone window (which also recognises the windows for club rugby and Super rugby).

Feature a full round-robin and playoffs.

Be affordable and sustainable.

Provide meaningful competition for all 14 unions in the Air NZ Cup and maintain the strength of the Heartland Championship.

Maintain a point of difference for New Zealand.

Tew said details would be released next week after workshop participants reported back to their respective "stakeholders" first.

- NZPA