One division on table but schedule issue

THERE is constant discussion about moving the provincial competition to one division but it is a case of trying to squeeze something too big into something too small.

The format of the Mitre 10 Cup came about in 2011 with 14 teams split into two equal divisions.

Each side plays the other teams in its division and four teams from the other division.

In 2009 and 2010, there was a round robin with all 14 teams playing each other and then playoffs. The final was played in November in those years.

That led to the accusations of player overload and waning interest so the new format was introduced, carried out with the help of the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association.

But any competition in which not everyone plays everyone, and in which teams can find it very hard to get out of the lower Championship section, has its critics.

The Premiership teams are hardly having it all over the Championship teams.

Last weekend, Manawatu turned over Waikato while Wellington thumped previously unbeaten Canterbury.

Otago ran Tasman close while Northland nearly tipped over North Harbour.

Otago coach Cory Brown said after the game against Tasman on Saturday there was little between the two divisions.

‘‘It is very tight. All the teams are really even. They can all beat each other. Canterbury might be a little bit ahead but we nearly got them as well,’’ he said.

North Harbour is the only unbeaten team among the 14 sides halfway through the competition.

Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said a working group had been set up of various members of the rugby community, to look at the structure of the competition.

Kinley said the group had no timeline to report to unions but the biggest issue was trying to fit a 14team competition into an 11week window.

‘‘It is certainly talked about a lot and other options which can be looked at,’’ Kinley said.

‘‘All 14 unions would like to have a competition structure where any one team could be able to win the title overall.’’

He said a team in the Championship could be the best team in the country one year but would not be able to compete for the top title.

A change to a conferencetype system had been suggested, but that was tried when the competition expanded in 2006 and was not popular.

Starting the Mitre 10 Cup earlier was one option but that had an impact on club rugby.

It was hard to go any later than the end of October, with players going on national tours and also having to have compulsory rest before starting preseason training for Super Rugby.

Kinley said money was not a major concern as most players were contracted year round.

Another concern was 14 teams playing in a competition which had only four teams qualify for playoffs.

Many teams may have little to play for, even halfway through the season, which may lead to apathy from both players and spectators.

The broadcasting deal for New Zealand Rugby concludes in 2020 but that is unlikely to have much impact on the structure as the number of games was unlikely to change drastically.