Rugby: Heat on for viable competition

A new plan is in the works as opposition to the 10-6 proposal grows. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

A new plan for provincial rugby could see the increasingly unpopular 10-team, six-team proposal consigned to the wastepaper basket.

The collective bargaining process between the Players' Association and the NZ Rugby Union, which will determine the contracting model for professional rugby, has thrown up new proposals for the Air New Zealand Cup.

A recent players' conference saw serious questions asked over the viability and meaningfulness of a six-team second tier, and it is understood that key people are working on a new competition structure.

It is not clear what shape the new competition might take but a 10-6 premier/first division split is now thought to be unworkable.

Players' Association head Rob Nichol would not comment, other than to confirm that there were issues being discussed around the collective bargaining table.

The NZRU has taken an increasing amount of heat in recent days as those in favour of retaining the status quo have mobilised support effectively, leaving those proponents of change to bark from the margins.

As well as the four provinces with a sword hovering over their necks taking an increasingly strident and, probably, litigious stand, a survey of 250 former All Blacks found overwhelming support for retaining a 14-team competition.

And now, the farmers are revolting.

Farmers' Mutual Group has written to NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs, asking him to rethink the decision to change the format of the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland competitions.

In the letter, released to the Herald, chief executive Chris Black has warned Hobbs that tinkering with the format of the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland championships would risk alienating farmers and provincial businesspeople.

"The current format of the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship provides an unmatched opportunity for all players, in professional, semi-professional and amateur unions alike," Black wrote.

"I feel it would be a great shame to see changes made to such a vibrant and uniting competition. I wonder what gains could be so great as to outweigh the groundswell of grassroots support we have seen generated this year, particularly in those unions based outside our major cities?"

There is an obvious vested interest here in that FMG has the stadium naming rights for Manawatu's home ground. FMG's exposure will shrink significantly should Manawatu be excised from the Air New Zealand Cup.

However, a spokesperson for FMG said the motivation for the letter, tabled as a submission to the NZRU, was the almost unanimous feedback from customers about the current competition structure.

As yet FMG has received no response from Hobbs or the NZRU.

NZRU board members are likely to come under increasing pressure in the next 10 days before the pivotal meeting which will reveal their plans for 2010 and beyond.

It now seems increasingly likely they will leave the competition untouched next year, while selling the best of the new options to stakeholders over the coming months.