News
Tasman and Manawatu making plans
August 07 2008
The news that two of this year's Air New Zealand Cup sides would be removed from the top division at the end of the year has been met with a positive response in New Zealand, by and large, but those with the axe hanging over them are understandably a little more jumpy.
Prime candidates for the chop are Tasman, who have been beset by internal bickering and mounting debt since Nelson Bay and Marlborough amalgamated to form the new side.
The franchise recently sold the Lansdowne Park site in Blenheim to help ease their NZ$4m liability, and has been bailed out to the tune of NZ$250,000 by the NZRU this season.
However, there is a logistical reason for retaining Tasman: namely that the Crusaders would have no other province to distribute players to, meaning the current Super Rugby champions would only have Canterbury to draw from.
The reduced salary cap would mean that Canterbury would be unable to retain the same number of Super 14 players as it does now, leaving an exodus to other areas and Super 14 franchises likely.
"That, in my opinion, would be unworkable. It would be a major, major issue for the Crusaders," said Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach to the NZPA.
The Highlanders can pool players with Otago and Southland, while the Hurricanes, the Chiefs and Blues will have between three to four provinces each to choose from, depending on which other province gets chopped.
The NZRU is prepared to explore the concept of "franchise contracting of Super Rugby players". If approved, it will then investigate how players will be aligned to provincial unions in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Riach is eager to see it introduced because it will allow the Crusaders to rely on their own playing stock.
"I would hope it becomes a reality," said Riach.
"It's far better and simpler for franchises to contract their own players. The Crusaders should have a guarantee of knowing who their players are.
"I don't know what is going to happen with Tasman but if it is not around again, then franchise contracting needs to be introduced very, very soon.
"The NZRU are aware of our concerns."
Meanwhile, Manawatu, who are also potentially under threat, appear to be switching allegiance to the Highlanders after continually finding the Hurricanes unwilling to host Super 14 matches in Palmerston North.
No Super 14 matches were played there this year, and only one will be played outside Wellington next year with New Plymouth in Taranaki the likely venue.
There are no Manawatu players in the current Hurricanes side and two in the Highlanders, meaning that the local rugby public would find more reason to support the Highlanders.
"We have an appetite for rugby here and we can't satisfy it. The Hurricanes have no Manawatu players and little appeal to people in the Manawatu. That's the disconnect that's occurred," said Manawatu CEO Haydn Smith.
"We've a better chance of getting a Highlanders game than a Hurricanes game."
"We believe it's viable and we have some people prepared to underwrite it."
"We believe we will fill the stadium so long as there are some Manawatu boys in the Highlanders team. Those two players (Haydn Triggs and Johnny Leota) are a huge part of this community."
However, there may be a surfeit of venues for the Highlanders, with Invercargill, Dunedin, and Queenstown already lined up as venues next year for the Otago side.