Taranaki club rugby will be back to full season

Taranaki’s CMK club rugby season is back to two full rounds after a Covid-inflicted shortened season earlier this year.

Taranaki Rugby Football Union (TRFU) was forced to modify last season amid growing Covid cases in clubs. It was delayed by a month before a north-south format was introduced followed by one full round – a total of 10 games each. The 2020 season was also affected with only time for one round after lockdown.

But it was voted to switch back to the traditional full two-round format at Friday’s club chairpersons’ meeting with the competition scheduled to start on Saturday, April 1. Teams will play a total of 14 regular season matches, before the play-offs. Finals will be held on Saturday, July 15.

TRFU chief executive Mike Sandle said clubs were consulted during the process.

‘‘The two-full round format was strongly preferred by the majority of clubs,’’ he said.

Points will be halved after the first round, another contentious format among clubs. The idea means teams at the bottom of the table after the first round have a chance to make their competition meaningful without getting out of reach of the leading teams.

There remains a divided view about the competition’s format. While many punters expected the competition to resume as normal after last season’s complications, others preferred a similar format to this year moving forward, despite only having eight teams in the premier, division one and colts grades.

Sandle said remodelling the format was something the TRFU would consider. ‘‘The season’s length is something we need to be mindful of and we need to adapt to societal change and time commitment of volunteers, including club administrators, referees, players and coaches.’’

Women’s, division two and three grades would be finalised in the new year when team entries were confirmed, Sandle said.

The women’s competition has the potential to expand next season. Stratford/eltham and New Plymouth Old Boys have advertised for coaches. If numbers allow, the clubs will join existing teams from Clifton, Southern, Coastal and Inglewood.

Stratford formed a key part of women’s rugby in the region when playing in a Manawatū competition. It was the only women’s team in the province.