Rugby: More changes for provincial game

Another facelift to New Zealand's provincial rugby championship appears imminent beyond this year.

A mood for change was obvious as more than 80 of the sport's key figures trailed out of Westpac Stadium yesterday, ending a two-day forum addressing wide-ranging issues affecting the game over the next five years.

A prominent topic was the sustainability of the Air NZ Cup, with several unions coming under increasing financial strain since the long-serving NPC was expanded to a 14-team competition in 2006.

A review into how the competition had performed was always scheduled for this year and it seems likely to recommend change for 2009 according to New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs.

"There is a real chance there will be changes with respect to the Air NZ Cup. The financial pressures that exist at the moment are a catalyst for the need for change."