KEY POINTS:
Tasman and Northland will not be part of the next Air New Zealand Cup following a cull by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
The Cup will have 12 teams from next year, down from the current 14.
Northland have already filed their intention to appeal the decision.
Lower ranked teams have had a nervous wait since the NZRU last week announced its intention to drop two teams.
Chief executive Steve Tew said last week the review of the premier domestic competition aimed to maintain its status and "eliminate the sustainability issues that have challenged us with the current format."
Today Tew said it had been an extremely difficult decision, but was in the best interests of New Zealand rugby.
"The review process demonstrated there was broad support for a reduction in the number of teams in the Air New Zealand Cup. However, the hard part of that decision is having to consider which teams would not be included."
The "draft final report" also announced the re-introduction of promotion and relegation, linking the Cup with the second-tier Hearland Championship.
From next year, the Cup competition is set to kick off in mid-August, following a "protected window" for the club season and will return to a round robin format followed by semifinals and a final.
The NZRU also announced a review of the Heartland Championship following the changes to the Air NZ Cup.
Northland Rugby chairman Wayne Peters said there are a number of reasons why his team should remain.
Mr Peters said in terms of playing numbers Northland is in the first 10 in New Zealand, as they are with population growth.
He said it is simply unacceptable for Northland not to be included in the country's premier competition.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
