Tasman aim for Top Ten
22-Jun-2009
 
By WAYNE MARTIN - The Nelson Mail

Tasman's survival in the Air New Zealand Cup could again be under threat after the New Zealand Rugby Union announced on Saturday that the championship will be reduced to a 10-team affair with two divisions operating below it.

The NZRU announced the changes to the domestic rugby competition after meeting with the country's 26 provinces in Wellington. The new format could be introduced as early as next year but is more likely to get the green light in 2011.

The new structure will consist of the premier division, a division one and a Heartland championship. It means four teams from the current Air New Zealand Cup are facing the axe. Candidates would appear to be the financially troubled Counties-Manukau, Tasman, Manawatu and Northland unions.

However, Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Peter Barr did not accept that Tasman would automatically face relegation.

"It's not set in concrete," said Mr Barr.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union board has agreed in principle to a 10-team competition subject to designing a meaningful competition for the remaining provinces, whoever they may be. So that's their challenge."

He agreed that Tasman's previous financial performance did not do it any favours.

He said it was critical that the team performed well this season.

"First and foremost, we need to ensure that we're in the top 10 of this year's competition and that we meet the other criteria. And if that happens, there's no reason why we won't be in the Air New Zealand Cup next year.

"If we don't, then it's possible that we'll be in some other competition."

Barr's personal preference had been for the current 14 provinces to split into a six-team premier division, with eight teams making up division one and involving promotion-relegation. But he said after informal discussions between himself and directors of the NZRU board it was clear his idea lacked any real support.

He said the feeling was that the proposed split was not enough to ensure New Zealand had competitive teams in the Super 15 or that provinces would get enough home games.

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