Split in Tasman ranks would be a big step back

BY JOHN ALEXANDER

OPINION: Despite the determination of the 14,000-plus supporters who signed the Save the Makos petitions, there are a small minority in Marlborough rugby circles who would still prefer to see the Red Devils going it alone.

If the Makos are relegated to a second-tier first division, and I remain confident they won't be and the 14-team format will remain intact, it is quite possible the Marlborough Rugby Sub-Union will move to split from Tasman and go back to a separate union.

That's fine, we live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion.

But it would significantly inhibit the development of the game here. Marlborough would more than likely go to Heartland, where the general standard of rugby is not much above club level. Even if Marlborough went into a new first division, they would struggle to be competitive based on how this year's Red Devils played in the latter part of the season without their Makos players.

Some people believe Tasman is too small to foot it in the top echelon. Why? ... more than 130,000 people live in the greater Tasman region and that's more than Taranaki and Southland. There is also a strong commercial and player base between Marlborough and Nelson.

Tasman has proved over the last two years in particular that they can foot it onfield with any team in the Air New Zealand Cup. They have two All Blacks signed up for next season to boost an already strong squad.

The financial woes have been solved to the point where a small surplus is likely to be declared for this season.

Exit the premier division and you can wave goodbye to most of the current Makos squad. Rugby is the young players' livelihood. Would those wanting to split from Tasman be prepared to take a demotion in their own workplace without looking elsewhere for opportunities?

The fabric of rugby in Marlborough and Nelson Bays would be undermined by the Makos being kicked out of the ANZC. Not only would our elite players leave, but also our top schoolboy talent would be poached.

If Marlborough voted to go it alone and drop to Heartland rugby, there is a good chance Nelson Bays would do everything they could to stay in division one, even if it meant taking over the Tasman name and leaving Marlborough players out of it. Most of Marlborough's talent would simply move over to Nelson full-time.

Polls conducted throughout the country are overwhelmingly in favour of the 14-team ANZC competition remaining next year. I doubt if two Heartland teams will want to play in a division one grade anyway and, if the NZRU does manage to lure them up with cash offers, the fight won't end there.

Hopefully, the issue will be resolved with common sense and by the national body listening to their stakeholders, the paying public, the players and those like Sir Colin Meads, who know more than most about where the heart and soul of New Zealand rugby is.

The NZRU expects unions to exercise financial prudence, but what about the continuing escalating losses expected as a result of the Rugby World Cup? What about the millions of dollars unions spent on upgrading stadia around New Zealand to fulfil entry criteria to the ANZC?

If the will of the vast majority of rugby stakeholders is not heeded, the lawyers may well come in and sort it out in court. It would be sad if it gets to that and certainly not a good look heading into the 2011 World Cup.

- The Marlborough Express