NPC - news, injuries etc
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The format of the men’s national provincial competition (NPC) will remain unchanged for at least another year.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has been pushing for change since late last year, but ran out of time to convince key stakeholders to pull the trigger on change for the 2021 season.Pushing for change never works. Convincing all involved with good arguments is something else.
“We had been active in suggesting that change was positive for a number of different reasons for 2021, however, there is strong consideration for that change to be made in 2022 onwards,” NZR boss Mark Robinson said on Tuesday.
The NZR Players’ Association and broadcaster Sky are two key stakeholders who must give the green light for change.
NZR and the provincial unions have been entertaining a major revamp since early November, including potentially splitting the 14-team competition into North and South pools.
The current format, which includes a premiership and championship with a promotion-relegation system, has been in play since 2011, but a review into the provincial game, known as the Nga Miro Report, recommended changes.
Canterbury coach Reuben Thorne and Wellington counterpart Leo Crowley have both expressed a desire for the premiership and championship model to be axed, meaning all 14 teams are eligible to win the title.Canterbury and Wellington? Hmmm, afraid of relegation?
Status quo confirms promotion for Hawke’s Bay into the premiership, while demoted North Harbour will replace the Magpies in the championship.
“We had looked at a range of different options around a potential conference model, and when we socialised that with some key stakeholders they expressed a view in terms of how late we were getting in the overall nature of the change, that they want more time to consider that. So, we’ve pushed that back to being considered for 2022 onwards,” Robinson said.I'd like to know what those options are. I can only remember them presenting one, the north-south option. What were the others they considered?
Facing a $40 million financial hit in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, slashing costs was primarily behind exploring a major revamp, although dwindling crowds and a general drop in interest also played a part.
It’s understood the north-south option would save about $700,000 on travel and accommodation in the men’s NPC.They've never been transparent about which provinces would benefit from those savings and by how much. It was clear from comments that provinces in the North pool would benefit, but those in the South pool wouldn't or not as much.
@stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'd like to know what those options are. I can only remember them presenting one, the north-south option. What were the others they considered?
I think having a Pool A and Pool B might be the way to go in the future. You could allocate the teams for each pool based on seedings from the previous year. For example, using 2020, Ta$man and BOP in Pool A, Auckland and Waikato in Pool B, etc. The top 2 teams in each pool play cross-over SFs to decide the finalists. In this format you play all teams in your pool as well as some cross-over games but (in theory) every team has a chance to win the Premiership title. This format wouldn't necessarily save NZR and the provinces money, if that is the goal, but does provide a more inclusive NPC.
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@stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'd like to know what those options are. I can only remember them presenting one, the north-south option. What were the others they considered?
I think having a Pool A and Pool B might be the way to go in the future. You could allocate the teams for each pool based on seedings from the previous year. For example, using 2020, Ta$man and BOP in Pool A, Auckland and Waikato in Pool B, etc. The top 2 teams in each pool play cross-over SFs to decide the finalists. In this format you play all teams in your pool as well as some cross-over games but (in theory) every team has a chance to win the Premiership title. This format wouldn't necessarily save NZR and the provinces money, if that is the goal, but does provide a more inclusive NPC.
@bovidae I agree that could be a good format, but I haven't seen anywhere which options they considered, and whether the one you suggest was one of them. They've been pushing that north-south division; nothing else it seems.
I'd also like another piece of silverware to play for if they get rid of the Premiership/Championship format. Maybe something like in sevens. The top 4 (or top 2 if two conferences) play for the Cup and the next 4 play for a Plate. Some teams will never be good enough to play for the Cup. It would be good if they can get a shot at a Plate. Or follow the example of the Heartland comp, with its Meads and Lochore Cup.
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@bovidae I agree that could be a good format, but I haven't seen anywhere which options they considered, and whether the one you suggest was one of them. They've been pushing that north-south division; nothing else it seems.
I'd also like another piece of silverware to play for if they get rid of the Premiership/Championship format. Maybe something like in sevens. The top 4 (or top 2 if two conferences) play for the Cup and the next 4 play for a Plate. Some teams will never be good enough to play for the Cup. It would be good if they can get a shot at a Plate. Or follow the example of the Heartland comp, with its Meads and Lochore Cup.
You don't even have to have two pools.
You can just have your 14 teams, a random draw of ten matches each and top eight for quarter-finals (or just top four for semi-finals) which have happened prior to the split to Premiership and Championship in 2011.
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@bovidae I agree that could be a good format, but I haven't seen anywhere which options they considered, and whether the one you suggest was one of them. They've been pushing that north-south division; nothing else it seems.
I'd also like another piece of silverware to play for if they get rid of the Premiership/Championship format. Maybe something like in sevens. The top 4 (or top 2 if two conferences) play for the Cup and the next 4 play for a Plate. Some teams will never be good enough to play for the Cup. It would be good if they can get a shot at a Plate. Or follow the example of the Heartland comp, with its Meads and Lochore Cup.
@stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'd also like another piece of silverware to play for if they get rid of the Premiership/Championship format. Maybe something like in sevens. The top 4 (or top 2 if two conferences) play for the Cup and the next 4 play for a Plate.
Let's call the title for teams 5-8 the Championship. I know a cup they can use.
@Number-10 To many people random doesn't imply fair, so you would have to sell that point. If you based the draw on seedings it is transparent and based on previous results.
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Hearing the NZRFU are wanting to save around 750k per season by scrapping the current Mitre 10 Cup structure..one of the protagonists behind this is Brent Impey , he has threatened the unions saying they will each be sent an invoice for $50k.
The unions have spoke out about possible who a possible change would effect interest and engagement , under the current format regardless of how you feel about the championship and premiership division, there’s is still an interest right up until the last week before semi finals ..
Imagine a 14 team comp ..6 -8 teams will will be out of contention halfway through the comp ..interest from a spectator point of view not to mention from a TV piece will fall away dramatically .Top office is totally out of touch with the grassroots side of the game nothing new really in the grand scheme of things .
They don’t even have a person who oversees womens rugby , but they shout from the rooftop regarding the growth of womens game . -
:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
@stargazer surely a conflict of interest for the medal!
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@stargazer surely a conflict of interest for the medal!
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@kiwiwomble Will be re-named!
@stargazer unless he wins...then they can just add " 's "
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the NPC is back, the old NPC shield too which is unexpected but cool
should probably update the Facebook page name though :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:
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the NPC is back, the old NPC shield too which is unexpected but cool
should probably update the Facebook page name though :cat_face_with_tears_of_joy:
@kiwiwomble On Twitter, they've changed their name, but not yet the twitter handle (so exactly the opposite):
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@yeetyaah said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
From the Mitre 10 Cup Facebook page. Thought it was April Fools tbh.
yeah I did too, particularly as it was the Mitre 10 Cup page promoting it....
