Up-down system returns to NPC

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union has again revamped the NPC competition, with the reintroduction of the promotion-relegation system.

NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw confirmed the changes yesterday after a meeting with the 27 provincial unions in Wellington this week. The changes will mean a 10-team first division, eight teams in the second division and nine in the third, with a return to the promotion-relegation playoff between divisions one and two.

The changes will begin in part this season. The bottom of the 11 division one teams will be relegated and the second-bottom team will play the division two winners in the promotion-relegation game.

The lowest two sides in division two will be relegated but the division three winners will stay.

In next year's competition, the bottom four division two teams would play a round robin to determine the bottom team, who would then play the division three winner in the promotion-relegation game. This would also provide more home games for the division two sides.

The third division teams would get the option before the semifinals as to whether they wanted the chance to be promoted.

McCaw said division two teams would still have to satisfy the criteria of financial stability and playing numbers to ensure promotion to the top bracket.

"The NZRFU believes it is imperative that rugby remains a game played across the widest possible geographic area and that participation in every area is as deep as possible," McCaw said.

"That's why we also need a strong second and third division."

There was a desire to build a strong-and-even division one as a base for Super 12 selection, a meaningful competition for all provinces, and to create income for provincial rugby.

McCaw said 15 of the 27 NPC unions were in support of the changes, seven were in favour of a South African Currie Cup format of two pools of six division one teams, and the remaining five were against any changes.