Tasman Makos: News

Tasman rugby cuts back teams
18-Apr-2008

John Alexander - Marlborough

Cost-cutting measures have resulted in the Tasman Rugby Union dropping both its under 20 men's team and the senior women's representative side for the 2008 season.

Tasman chief executive Peter Barr said the decision wasn't taken lightly and was regrettable.

"It's done with a great deal of regret. Tough times, tough decisions. Regrettably they are among several cost savings.

"We had to tighten our belt."

Barr said the cream of Tasman's rugby talent will still be looked after.

Several under 20 players are likely to be included in the Tasman Makos B team.

He said this team is a pre Air New Zealand Cup development tool and will be more beneficial to the union long term.

The Marlborough and Nelson Bays age group teams including the under 18 grade sides won't be affected and everything else will run as usual.

Barr said the decision to cut the under 20 and women's Makos teams is a one-off thing at this stage and if the financial situation allows, those teams could be back in action next year.

Tasman Makos head coach Todd Blackadder saw the benefit of the restructure for both the Marlborough and Nelson Bays Sub-Unions, and said: "This change now puts the emphasis on the sub-unions to select and develop players that will go on and play for the Makos and also put the emphasis on players themselves to produce good club form."

Having one less representative Makos team could make Marlborough's job of trying to lift the Seddon Shield off Nelson Bays later this season even tougher given the much larger pool of representative quality players available in the Nelson Bays competition.