NZRU reverse ANZ Cup decision

The New Zealand Rugby Union has backed down on plans to cut four teams from the country’s premier domestic competition next year after threats of legal action from teams facing the axe.

Rugby union chairman Jock Hobbs said Friday the union was reversing its decision made in July to cut the top provincial competition in 2010 from 14 teams to 10.

But he said the union still favoured cutting four teams from the 2011 season, depending on negotiations with the provincial teams.

The decision to cut the teams was made due to the the poor financial performance of some teams.

The Super 15 which starts in 2011 will also take up more of the rugby calendar making less time for the Air New Zealand Cup matches. A cut in the number of teams would reduce the Air New Zealand Cup window.

The July announcement raised a howl of protest from many fans and the four teams likely to be cut — Northland, Counties-Manukau, Manawatu, and Tasman.

Appeals from the teams and threats of legal action followed, which the union said was the reason — along with pay negotiations with players –that the competition will remain unchanged next year.

“A number of factors have changed since the board made its decisions in June and July,” Hobbs said.

The domestic season, which finished last month, was one of the most successful of recent years with the threatened teams drawing strong crowd support.

Rugby union chief executive Steve Tew said the strong growth in television audiences and the profile of the competition were “hugely positive”.

“Together with our provincial unions we now need to figure out how we can harness that interest and support in 2010 and beyond to sustain those teams and these vital competitions over the longer term,” Tew said.(source)