New domestic competition structure for New Zealand rugby

Part of the agreement between the NZRU and the NZRPA is the restructuring of the current Air New Zealand Cup, which will take place from 2011.

A new competition structure involving the 14 Premier Provincial Unions will be introduced which will feature, from 2010, a full 14 team round robin with semis and final (this is the same format as 2009).

The new competition format from 2011 will see 14 teams split into two divisions of seven teams based on their on-field finishing positions in 2010.

The top seven teams will form the Premiership and the bottom seven the Championship.

Teams will play all other teams in their division plus four other teams from the other division (there will be an innovative new process for teams to select their cross-division opponents with the detail to be finalised in the first quarter next year).

All matches will carry full competition points. The winner of the Championship will receive automatic promotion to the Premiership replacing the 7th placed team in the Premiership which will be relegated to the Championship.

In 2011, due to New Zealand hosting RWC 2011, the competition window will be restricted to eight weeks. As a result, in 2011 only, there will be three mid-week matches and no semi-finals.

From 2012 the competition will commence two weeks after the conclusion of the new expanded Super Rugby in mid-August and be played over 12 weeks. This will see the introduction of semi-finals and no mid week matches.

Franchise Contracting

The terms of settlement would also see the introduction of Franchise contracting from 2011 onwards with Rebel Sport Super 14 Franchises able to directly contract 28 players on New Zealand Rugby Contracts and draft up to four further players for a total squad of between 30 and 32 players.

Franchises will be allocated a budget from within the Player Payment Pool with a maximum amount that a Franchise will be able to pay a player to be agreed. The existing Wider Training Group of a further eight players per Franchise will remain.

Next Steps

The settlement terms will now be drafted into a full Collective Agreement which will be presented to the respective stakeholders for final ratification. Further details of the agreement will be announced once those processes are concluded.