Tew swears no NPC decision is made

Steve Tew

Having made it a mission statement to unleash the full potential of Greater Auckland, the New Zealand Rugby Union has opened itself to accusations it will have to award Counties-Manukau a place in next year's NPC Premier Division.

With a decision not due until the end of the month as to which of the 14 teams vying for up to 12 places in the new league have been successful, the NZRU continues to get hot and bothered at such speculation. Deputy chief executive Steve Tew is adamant that no decision has been made.

"Any speculation we have made a decision is bollocks," said Tew. "The board will meet at the end of the month to discuss the bids.

"There is no pre-determined decision. Bids will be evaluated on the set criteria."

There's no suggestion the process will be anything other than thorough and fair. But it's hard to see how Counties-Manukau could be left out. As the NZRU points out in its annual general report published last Wednesday, Greater Auckland is not fully utilising its diverse population base.

Playing numbers in the region in actual terms are the highest in the country but per capita they are the lowest. Manukau is the fastest growing city in New Zealand and has been a prodigious producer of talent - Jonah Lomu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Casey Laulala, Kristian Ormsby, Tony Marsh and Danny Lee. But they all had to leave in search of higher honours. Turning Counties from a feeder union into a retainer of talent is vital if the NZRU is serious about growing playing numbers. Counties chief executive Nick Shepherd is not prepared to comment on the likelihood of his union making the cut, while Tew dismisses the theory that Counties need a Premier Division place to solve Greater Auckland's problems.

Shepherd is, however, confident Counties have submitted a very strong bid.

"We have a young, ethnically diverse population. We can help the NZRU solve the Greater Auckland issue and if you look at the demographics of the region, we are a prolific producer of athletes."

It's generally accepted that the 10 current first division sides will all be included in the new format. There are rumours that Southland are vulnerable.

But their saving grace is there is extreme logic in the Highlanders having two Premier Division unions in their franchise area. The new NPC will operate a salary cap to distribute players more evenly.

Again, Tew denies the NZRU have already decided to have at least two Premier Divisions per Super 12 franchise. But it would be a glaring oversight if Canterbury are not able to release players to another union but have them still eligible for the Crusaders, which means Nelson Bays/Marlborough may hold the trump card.

All of the bidding unions have compelling reasons to be in the elite division. The NZRU, though, is convinced any more than 12 teams would be unsustainable.

If it is Hawke's Bay and Manawatu who miss out, it would be a cruel blow to two unions who have provided so much for New Zealand rugby.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY