Rugby unions win war over changes

North Otago rugby boss Bill Dean is not in the mood for celebrating despite his union's apparent victory over the establishment.

The modest central South Island province led the opposition to the New Zealand Rugby Union's drive to prevent division one teams using loan players and remunerating players.

The NZRU yesterday acknowledged its argument had not been proven by announcing it will take more time to consider the Commerce Commission's draft determination on the revised division one competition.

The commission this month said measures to remove loan players and player remuneration from division one would be costly to administer and enforce, deter some players who could not afford to play for free without compensation for lost income, cause unions to lose the benefit of using loan players and remove an avenue for players to progress to higher levels.

The revised division one starting in August is to feature 12 small provincial unions.

Yesterday, NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said loan players and player remuneration would be allowed in division one in 2006, but the union would revisit the issue.

Tew said the NZRU "has formed the view that it should withdraw the request for authorisation of the proposed division one arrangements and take more time to reflect on some of the points raised by the Commerce Commission".

"There are major implications for amateur rugby and the future success of division one and we don't want to rush through the process," Tew said.

The NZRU "has reluctantly had to accept that the best way to achieve a positive determination on the applications before the Commerce Commission is to defer the division one application at this stage".

The NZRU would now gather further information about the likely impact of the division one proposals with a view to refiling an application to the commission.

The NZRU's temporary backdown left North Otago Rugby Union chairman Dean feeling uneasy.

"We know where we stand in 2006," said Dean.

"We may have won the battle for 2006 but I don't like referring to it in those terms - this isn't a battle, this isn't a war.

"It's simply us trying to preserve our position so we can continue to provide top quality rugby within our union, and utilise the tools we've always had and keep the choices we've always had."

Dean is mystified by Tew's claim that the majority of division one provincial unions would be disappointed that the proposed arrangements would not be implemented for 2006.

"I don't understand that comment," Dean said.

"We've talked to other division one unions and that certainly is not our impression.

"I don't think the smaller unions by and large want to see choices, which may adversely impact on their ability to promote their game in their unions, imposed upon them."

He said the North Otago union was not alone in opposing the NZRU's push to implement a strictly amateur division one.

"In a public sense we were the only ones prepared to put our head above the parapet. But I think privately other unions may well hold the same views."

Dean considered it significant the NZRU said it would gather more information on the issue before taking it back to the Commerce Commission.

"This process has been ongoing for about three years. I'm not sure what information they are going to try and find in the next two to three months."

- NZPA