NPC to become two-part contest

From 2011 rugby's national provincial championship will be split into two seven-team divisions.

After months, if not years, of debate over what format New Zealand's domestic competition should take, the decision was finally announced yesterday.

The competition will remain at 14 teams but be split into two divisions of seven in a complex format.

Under the new format a Premiership division of seven teams and a Championship division of seven teams will be formed.

Teams will play all other teams in their divisions plus four teams from the other division.

All matches will carry full competition points and the winner of the Championship will receive automatic promotion to the Premiership, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership.

The revamped competition format was pushed through by the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association and was one of many changes they have agreed on with the New Zealand Rugby Union as part of the new collective employment agreement.

The NZRU had been a keen advocate of downsizing the top-flight competition to 10 teams and have a second-tier six-team league. However, the association remained staunch on its wish that the competition to remain at 14 teams, and the two parties agreed on a new split division format.

The competition fits into the 12- week window and gives each union at least five home games while still keeping all 14 unions involved.

Another key outcome for provincial rugby through the negotiations was the downsizing of the salary cap from $2.2 million to $1.35m.

Rugby Southland boss Roger Clark, who was in Auckland yesterday for the meeting with the NZRU, said he was "rapt" with the changes put forward.

He said the announcement that 14 teams would remain under the one competition umbrella gave the unions security for the future.

He also said the reduction of the salary, something Clark had been lobbying for for some time, would ease financial burdens on unions.

Clark said more than half the unions spend more than the new $1.35m cap, including Southland.

He said the big spenders were generally the most successful and he felt the reduction would help even out the competition further.

The agreement is still subject to ratification by the NZRU board, individual unions, Super 14 franchises, the association's board and professional players.

This is likely to be finalised by early next year, although it is understood all involved are happy with what has been drawn up.

- © Fairfax NZ News