Tasman players uncertain of future

Ten Tasman players must go elsewhere next year if they want to play in the Air New Zealand Cup.

The New Zealand Rugby Union's decision to chop Tasman from the professional competition has left 10 players, who are contracted until the end of 2009, in limbo although the national body has said it will honour the contracts of players who stay in New Zealand.

While 29 Tasman players come off contract at the end of the year, the others will have to either play for Nelson Bays or Marlborough in the amateur Heartland Championship, get picked by another professional team or go overseas.

"We'll have to work through this issue," Tasman chief executive Peter Barr said.

"Tasman will not stand in their way. These players are going to have to think about going elsewhere, but they will want to stay where they live and were raised."

Northland, the other team to be axed from the competition, does not have any players contracted beyond this year.

General manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen said the NZRU will act as guarantor for players contracted beyond this year. But the situation has the potential to be tricky should the players not get picked by other provinces.

Sorensen said the NZRU is prepared to be flexible, using Crusaders and Tasman wing Kade Poki as an example. He said the NZRU will discuss Poki's situation with all the parties concerned.

Tasman's demise is set to have huge ramifications for the Crusaders who will now have just one professional team Canterbury from which to select their Super 14 players.

With the NZRU reducing the salary cap, the franchise will be disadvantaged compared to the likes of the Hurricanes, who have four professional provinces from which to select players.

This morning the NZRU will hold a conference call with the Crusaders to discuss the fast-tracking of a franchise contracting system that will help teams avoid relying solely on provincial teams for players.

- © Fairfax NZ News