Backers of a Christchurch team for rugby league's New South Wales Cup are ramping up plans to join the competition in 2018 after the NRL confirmed expansion plans when releasing a preliminary vision for the code's future.
A draft version of the NRL's Blueprint for the Future was released on Tuesday and touted Christchurch and Wellington as possible locations for a New Zealand team when the Sydney-based second-tier competition increases from 12 teams to 14.
The announcement was welcomed by Celebration Lions Sports Trust, a Christchurch church group who have already had discussions with the NRL.
"It is encouraging news," said the trust's special projects manager Corey Watkinson.
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"We're putting together a business plan for the NRL and we're looking for key stakeholders."
Watkinson estimated it would cost $1 million a season to run the team and he was confident sponsors would find the concept attractive.
"With an opportunity like this, a televised trans-Tasman competition …. it's the equivalent of the NPC (rugby). I think there'd be support for it from the business community in the South Island," he said.
Watkinson said discussions with the Canterbury Rugby League board had been encouraging and it was also key rugby league's other South Island zones - Otago, Southland, the West Coast and Tasman - were involved.
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He was open to the team playing in Dunedin, Nelson and on the West Coast - ideally the home ground would be AMI Stadium, the traditional home of Canterbury rugby league after the Trust's plan to redevelop Porrit Park were unsuccessful.
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Watkinson doubted there would be resistance from Sydney clubs due to increased travel costs.
"I don't believe it would be make-or-break. I think those sorts of questions would be resolved at NRL level on the back of their television rights deal."
Former Kiwis coach and now player agent Frank Endacott said a Christchurch team would be a great opportunity and pathway for local players.
"If you can get over the financial hurdle, it can be done," he said.
"It would be a positive step forward but we've got to be realistic - have we got serious people to raise a million dollars a year to run it?"
He said a Sydney club could see value in an association - the Cronulla Sharks already has links with the Halswell Hornets - though talent in the city and elsewhere in the South Island is already scouted.
"It could be subsidised by the NRL itself to foster rugby league outside of Sydney. This is only a blueprint, there will be ideas thrown back at them, it could change," said Endacott.
"Who knows? If it was successful, it could pave the way for a NRL franchise down here."
Canterbury Rugby League chairman Andrew McCormick said the prospect of a NSW Cup team in Christchurch was "an exciting prospect that would sit well with CRL's strategy of raising the profile of the game in the province".
"It is another very positive topic around the game at present, what with the Nga Puna Wai development passing its latest stage with CCC last week.
"There would clearly be a great deal of conceptual and organisational work to be done to bring any proposal to fruition, and while we have had some preliminary discussions, this will certainly be high on our agenda when we start the new year, coupled with bedding in the new CEO who will replace Terry Williamson."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league...eam-backers-rapt-with-nrl-expansion-blueprint
