Premier division could link all 14 hopefuls

The New Zealand Rugby Union may have concocted a fix-all format that includes all 14 of the country's premier division hopefuls.

One option seriously considered in recent months is a premier division split into a top six and bottom eight.

The top six would play home and away fixtures during the round-robin, with the last-placed team automatically demoted and the top side from the bottom eight promoted.

The format would appease all 14 provincial unions that have applied for the premier division and would avoid mis-matches between teams such as Canterbury and Hawkes Bay.

It would also drive much needed revenue, with the top-six matches likely to be well attended and well received by broadcasters.

Speculation gathered momentum this week that the NZRFU had changed its mind on a planned 12-team professional league and will instead unveil an expanded competition in Wellington today.

That will be met with joy by provinces such as Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Northland and Counties Manukau, who have until now assumed two would miss out.

It will, however, subject the NZRFU to scrutiny over an apparent about-face.

Expansion would appear to go against the grain of the leafy competitions review produced with much fanfare and resolve in November 2003.

That document recommended the premier division comprise "up to 12 teams" that "must meet the criteria" for a "single round-robin" tournament.

But a closer examination suggests the door has always been open to a degree of flexibility.

"There is no 'magic' number, team numbers are a derivative as opposed to a driver [of the structure]," the review said, going on to point out that if the object was not purely commercial, more teams could be considered.

There has been a suggestion that a 14-team round-robin would raise costs, weaken the competition and create problems in terms of scheduling unless it was split into pools.

- NZPA