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http://www.stuff.co.nz/4707075a1823.html
Northland and Tasman have successfully defended their right to stay in the Air New Zealand Cup with the New Zealand Rugby Union reversing their recommendation to axe the two unions from next year's tournament.
And the Ranfurly Shield format will also stay unchanged after the NZRU had signalled it would make holders put up the Log o' Wood in away matches.
The NZRU issued a statement saying: Following consideration of the submissions from various parties, including the Northland and Tasman unions, the NZRU board has decided to retain the 14-team structure.
This would be conditional on Tasman and Northland fulfilling the commitments made to the NZRU as part of their submissions and presentations.
NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs said the Board was extremely conscious of the reaction from, and impact on, the rugby communities in Northland and Tasman to the draft decisions announced in August, and those views were taken into account.
"We have clearly heard from those Unions and their supporters about the impact they believe demotion will have on the game in their regions. For that reason, we have today agreed that we will grant 14 teams entry to the 2009/2010 Air New Zealand Cup, providing all 14 teams can demonstrate they can sustain themselves through the competition," said Hobbs.
Hobbs said the decision puts all of the 14 provincial unions currently in the Air New Zealand Cup on the same level in terms of the opportunity to compete in the premier competition but with the onus on those provinces to demonstrate they have the resources to operate at that level.
A set of conditions of entry will be agreed for all participating provincial unions in advance of the competition.
"We will expect Provincial Unions to maintain their financial viability on an annual basis which will be assessed. Any failure to do so could see a province removed from the competition."
The NZRU Board also signalled that it may look to move to a lesser number of teams in either 2011 or 2012 depending on the impact of the SANZAR competitions review currently underway.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew said there was still further work to be done in relation to the viability of the Northland and Tasman unions, including a requirement that Tasman must be made of up of both the Nelson Bays and Marlborough constituencies.
On the strength of their submission to the NZRU Board yesterday, he said Northland and Tasman would both be given an opportunity to demonstrate their viability.
"If, however, either union is not able to continue or does not meet the conditions of entry for the competition, the Air New Zealand Cup will feature fewer than 14 teams. Similarly, if other Provincial Unions are not able to demonstrate they have the resources and structures to sustain themselves at this level they may not be able to participate."
The 2009/2010 Air New Zealand Cup competitions will feature a full round-robin featuring all 14 teams playing each other either home or away, followed by semi-finals and final.
Ranfurly Shield
Based on the feedback received, the NZRU did not recommend the proposed changes to the Ranfurly Shield regulations regarding challenges between teams in the Air New Zealand Cup. These will remain unchanged.
"Based on various discussions regarding the Ranfurly Shield, we had been encouraged to explore with provincial unions how we might look at raising the visibility of the Ranfurly Shield. However, having listened to the feedback, there is clear view that we should leave the rules regarding challenges in the Air New Zealand Cup as they are," said Tew.
The NZRU will recommend a change to the regulations for the Ranfurly Shield at the next NZRU Annual or Special General Meeting to provide that the winners of the previous year's Meads Cups will automatically be granted a Shield challenge in the following year as one of the two mandatory challenges. The second mandatory challenge from a Heartland Championship Provincial Union would be at the discretion of the Holder.
Northland and Tasman have successfully defended their right to stay in the Air New Zealand Cup with the New Zealand Rugby Union reversing their recommendation to axe the two unions from next year's tournament.
And the Ranfurly Shield format will also stay unchanged after the NZRU had signalled it would make holders put up the Log o' Wood in away matches.
The NZRU issued a statement saying: Following consideration of the submissions from various parties, including the Northland and Tasman unions, the NZRU board has decided to retain the 14-team structure.
This would be conditional on Tasman and Northland fulfilling the commitments made to the NZRU as part of their submissions and presentations.
NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs said the Board was extremely conscious of the reaction from, and impact on, the rugby communities in Northland and Tasman to the draft decisions announced in August, and those views were taken into account.
"We have clearly heard from those Unions and their supporters about the impact they believe demotion will have on the game in their regions. For that reason, we have today agreed that we will grant 14 teams entry to the 2009/2010 Air New Zealand Cup, providing all 14 teams can demonstrate they can sustain themselves through the competition," said Hobbs.
Hobbs said the decision puts all of the 14 provincial unions currently in the Air New Zealand Cup on the same level in terms of the opportunity to compete in the premier competition but with the onus on those provinces to demonstrate they have the resources to operate at that level.
A set of conditions of entry will be agreed for all participating provincial unions in advance of the competition.
"We will expect Provincial Unions to maintain their financial viability on an annual basis which will be assessed. Any failure to do so could see a province removed from the competition."
The NZRU Board also signalled that it may look to move to a lesser number of teams in either 2011 or 2012 depending on the impact of the SANZAR competitions review currently underway.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew said there was still further work to be done in relation to the viability of the Northland and Tasman unions, including a requirement that Tasman must be made of up of both the Nelson Bays and Marlborough constituencies.
On the strength of their submission to the NZRU Board yesterday, he said Northland and Tasman would both be given an opportunity to demonstrate their viability.
"If, however, either union is not able to continue or does not meet the conditions of entry for the competition, the Air New Zealand Cup will feature fewer than 14 teams. Similarly, if other Provincial Unions are not able to demonstrate they have the resources and structures to sustain themselves at this level they may not be able to participate."
The 2009/2010 Air New Zealand Cup competitions will feature a full round-robin featuring all 14 teams playing each other either home or away, followed by semi-finals and final.
Ranfurly Shield
Based on the feedback received, the NZRU did not recommend the proposed changes to the Ranfurly Shield regulations regarding challenges between teams in the Air New Zealand Cup. These will remain unchanged.
"Based on various discussions regarding the Ranfurly Shield, we had been encouraged to explore with provincial unions how we might look at raising the visibility of the Ranfurly Shield. However, having listened to the feedback, there is clear view that we should leave the rules regarding challenges in the Air New Zealand Cup as they are," said Tew.
The NZRU will recommend a change to the regulations for the Ranfurly Shield at the next NZRU Annual or Special General Meeting to provide that the winners of the previous year's Meads Cups will automatically be granted a Shield challenge in the following year as one of the two mandatory challenges. The second mandatory challenge from a Heartland Championship Provincial Union would be at the discretion of the Holder.
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