Rugby Union keeps status quo

New Zealand's premier provincial rugby competition will remain a battle between 14 teams.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has chosen to stay with the status-quo after a season that saw relatively small turn-outs in the major cities while the likes of minnow Manawatu sold-out home games.

The Manawatu and Northland rugby unions had sought legal advice in case the union had voted to drop them from the premier competition and NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs said the threat of a legal challenge could have held-up confirmation of a new format.

Hobbs said the NZRU had been looking at a 10-6-10 competition which would have seen four unions dropped from the premier competition.

"A number of factors have changed since the board made its decisions in June and July. These include the fact that competition formats have become a fundamental part of the collective employment negotiations currently underway, the fact that we have appeals lodged by the Tasman and Counties-Manukau rugby unions and threatened legal action from other unions," Hobbs said.

But the NZRU is still looking at major changes for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Hobbs said the 10-6-10 format is still on the table and will be the subject of further negotiations.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said the union was focused on finalising a new collective employment agreement with the players association, which once in place, will clarify costs for the provincial unions and the competition in the next three years.

Mr Tew also had a message for the fans.

"Like all those involved in rugby, we have been greatly encouraged by the public's reaction to the Air New Zealand Cup in 2009. The strong growth in television audiences and the visibility of the competition were hugely positive," Tew said.

A meeting between all 14 premier union heads as well as the CEOs from Wanganui and Mid-Canterbury is taking place in Wellington today.

It is not yet known what roles the two minor teams will play in next year's provincial championship.

- NZHERALD STAFF, AGENCIES