Pride of provinces runs deep

By PAUL VERDON - Sunday News

The proposed changes to New Zealand's premier provincial competition have received a savaging by some of the biggest names in the game with former All Blacks virtually unanimous in their condemnation of the likely culling of four teams.

A survey of former All Blacks has shown the level of unrest within the rugby community as Northland, Manawatu, Tasman and Counties-Manukau look the most likely candidates to be axed when the Air New Zealand Cup is replaced by a 10-team Premier League next season. 

The biggest concern is over the wisdom of further eroding the foundations of the national game. 

Paul Verdon, author of eight rugby books mostly about the All Blacks, conducted the survey because of concerns he had about the decision.  He found former stars keen to offer views but not many were happy with what is now on the menu.

Sir Colin Meads (1957-71 All Black, 133 matches, King Country)

The NZRU must retain the 14 teams in the competition. If it takes $3 million or so to run the competition, there must be cut-backs and costs trimmed. The provincial unions, especially those that are struggling, must contribute to this effort by cost-savings and raising extra money. They cannot expect the NZRU to do it all for them.

Alex Wyllie (1970-73 All Black, 40 matches, Canterbury. All Blacks coach 1988-91)

It's already unbelievable what has happened to our game. All the big provinces that have Super 14 franchises – and Canterbury is one of the worst – just want to get the club season over with as soon as possible and put on their collar-and-ties. In North Canterbury we had 14 club teams. Now we're down to five!

Murray Mexted (1979-85 All Black, 72 matches, Wellington)

What can be done? Pressure NZRU board members. Make them feel guilty about the legacy they will leave if they don't rescind this decision made by their operations people. Do we have the best CEO in New Zealand in the role of our most high-profile business?

Grahame Thorne (1967-70 All Black, 39 matches, Auckland)

Steve Tew mucked it up from day one. Now he has a real fight on his hands. But the NZRU directors and Jock Hobbs seem powerless to stop him. The rugby season is too long. There is only so much rugby one can take. But Tew needs the money!

Laurie Mains (1971,76 All Black, 15 matches, Otago. All Blacks coach 1992-95)

Provincial support must be widespread for the long-term health of New Zealand rugby. You cannot build a skyscraper without wide and strong foundations.

Richie Guy (1971,72 All Black, nine matches, North Auckland. Former chairman NZRFU Council and NZRFU Board who oversaw the move to professionalism in 1996)

There was massive interest in this year's NPC. Many people have talked to me about it – people that I did not know took an interest in rugby. The main way of stopping the drop is to lobby the board members, who determined that the NPC be reduced subject to there being a meaningful comp for the four teams dropped. The staff has not come up with a meaningful second division.

Rod Ketels (1979-81 All Black, 17 matches, Counties)

The NZRU must back down on this decision. Imagine what [Australian administrator] John O'Neill would do if faced with this financial dilemma. Yes, he would make sure the money was found.

Tiny White (1949-56 All Black, 55 matches, Poverty Bay)

This is the very heart of New Zealand rugby that we are talking about. Please keep the system simple and let any change be proven, not engineered. It would spoil the original concept of the provincial championship. The NZRU has lost the plot. Constant change doesn't achieve anything.

Lindsay Townsend (1955 All Black, two matches, Otago)

A solution to the timeslot dilemma would be to divide the 14 teams into two sections. The top eight teams would play off for 1-8 and the bottom teams play off for 9-14. The Super 14/15 and NPC competitions should be able to co-exist with the right planning.

Sam Strahan (1967-73 All Black, 45 matches, Manawatu)

I am deeply concerned at the devastating effect relegation would have in Manawatu. I am sure the other relegated unions would suffer in the same way. I wonder if the NZRU Board fully realise the huge resentment and backlash against them and the game in general the proposed action would generate.

Bob Scott (1946-54 All Black, 52 matches, Auckland)

I know it's a different ball-game nowadays compared to when we played. But surely, they [the NZRU] are trying to uproot the roots of the game, if there's such a saying.

Tom Lister (1968-71 All Black, 26 matches, South Canterbury)

South Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and North Otago should amalgamate and see where that takes them in the future.

Doug Wilson (1953-54 All Black, Canterbury)

History tells us that we are the only country with a whole nation in the game of rugby in terms of it being the major sporting code. Our communities always strived for a rugby club and these clubs are still important. Twenty-seven unions still have a definite place and the NZRU should be placing its day-to-day business on club creation and protection in every little town in New Zealand.

Jack Hazlett (1966-67 All Black, 12 matches, Southland)

I played against all provinces. My greatest provincial memory would be beating some of those provinces. If these changes come, players won't be able to achieve that.

Murray Watts (1979-80 All Black, Manawatu)

Club rugby is suffering in all provinces since the advent of the Super 14. Relegate some NPC teams and club rugby will be an absolute disaster in those provinces.

Laurie Knight (1974-77 All Black , 35 matches, Auckland and Poverty Bay)

My priority is preserving the club window. Over the last few years, our club has lost many players (to the Auckland provincial team) as the club enters the quarterfinals and semifinals. It is a huge disincentive to build teams.

Andy Jefferd (1980-81 All Black , five matches, East Coast)

We all run businesses. So each union must get professional advice and they must make a profit each year. It has been a great year for the NPC and you do not change a winning combination!

Don McIntosh (1956-57 All Black, 13 matches, Wellington)

We can see from this year's Northern Hemisphere tour that we can pick a better All Blacks team from strong provincial rugby than some seemed to think.

Derek Arnold (1963-64 All Black, 15 matches, Canterbury)

Money rules. But rugby wasnt always about big crowds. I recall playing Buller on Lancaster Park at 1.30pm on a Tuesday, watched by three men and a dog. We have a far bigger problem than just the NPC. That problem comes from the top – the NZRU and its selectors/coaching staff.

Gerald Kember (1967-70 All Black, 19 matches, Wellington)

The Super 14/15 and the NPC would be much more interesting if they had extended playoffs like league's NRL, even if this meant shortening the qualifying process.

Sam Strachan (1967-73 All Black, 45 matches, Manawatu):

I am deeply concerned at the devastating effect relegation would have in Manawatu. I am sure the other relegated unions would suffer in the same way. I wonder if the NZRU realises the huge resentment and backlash against it – and the game in general – the proposed action would generate.

Roy Roper (1949-50 All Black, five matches, Taranaki)

One has to admit that the professional game is here to stay, but if we don't foster the game downstream to provide the building blocks, we as a nation will lose the ascendency we have rightly retained as a rugby-playing nation.

John Hotop (1952-55 All Black, three matches, Canterbury)

The lesser known teams are playing open rugby in the NPC, whereas the top provinces are playing up-and-under footy over which the spectators lose interest.

Robin Archer (1955-57 All Black, 12 matches, Otago and Southland)

It seems the easy way out is to allow the demise of the NPC.

Jeff Matheson (1972 All Black, 13 matches, Otago)

The Super 14/15 should be reduced, not the NPC.

Doug Wilson (1953-54 All Black, 14 matches, Canterbury)

The NZRU must ensure that grassroots rugby is the first, the second and the third priority for the game. The clubs in every one of the 27 provinces need addressing first, then provincial rugby.

Tuppy Diack (1959 All Black, one match, Otago)

Club rugby is the backbone and the foundation of our game and it must be protected. The NPC is the next stage, where people still feel a sense of ownership and pride.

Jules Le Lievre (1962-64 All Black, 25 matches, Canterbury)

Rugby is a game for the people and should be available to the people and not be determined by where you live. The NZRU's job is to promote rugby, not to, through commercial decisions, harm the development and future of young players in this country.

Bruce Hunter (1970-71 All Black, 10 matches, Otago)

It is essential decisions like this are put aside until after the World Cup, when the whole picture may have changed for the better.