North and South divisions in the NPC?
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This articles touches on most of the points we have discussed. The cross-over games are necessary to ensure all provinces can have Ranfurly Shield challenges, even Ta$man.
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I am against anything that intensifies our season to a series of hard fought derby matches. The volume of injuries seems to be lifting as we move this way especially concussions. The media and the public might want this but do the players? I am all for bigger round robin style comps with a salary cap.
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@Bovidae said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
This articles touches on most of the points we have discussed. The cross-over games are necessary to ensure all provinces can have Ranfurly Shield challenges, even Ta$man.
There's no new information or new quotes in that Stuff article.
Did they just read it on here and pad it out with previously known background info?
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@ARHS Yeah there are definitely pros and cons with this proposed format.
But if there isn't the money to fund the current 2 division format then better to have a North and South division than no meaningful NPC at all.
@Number-10 I did wonder that myself.
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The travel factor is compounded by the changes to AirNZ domestic routes. No mention in that article if teams currently do bus/air combos to keep air costs down. eg Manawatu should be on land transport to Welly for flights. Southland should be heading up to Qtown or Dunedin based on the cheapest flight options etc.
Far flung teams from the wops with little aerodromes (Hawke Bay) can be kicked out
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@Crucial said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
The travel factor is compounded by the changes to AirNZ domestic routes.
That's what makes the Heartland comp so expensive. Teams have to bus to regional airports and take multiple flights via the main centres to get to their destination.
In the North division, only Whangarei to New Plymouth would fall outside the 6 hr bus ride limit.
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By the way, Canterbury took the bus from Christchurch to Blennheim for their game against Ta$man. Their bus broke down and they had to wait for a new bus, before continuing their trip North. It took them an hour more than usual (somewhere between 5 and 6 hours one way, IIRC).
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my big problem with the north south thing is, and the article says as much, the North is really the only one that will save money. But the north also is drawing on a much bigger population base, greater auckland and hamilton is like 2M people, So they have a greater ability to raise money.
so we're saying to someone like southland, you have one of the smallest populations...and not only are you not going to be able to save some money, we still want you to fly to the north island...but we're going to limit the games you can make money off
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@Winger said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
I like the current set up. It adds a lot of interest at the bottom of the top group. Like this year. What team will drop down. Also it gives two winners. Wellington will never win the Premiership title (just too incompetently run) but down one level they can win. as they did a few years back
@Chris-B said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
To be honest, I can't see why it's better - aside from saving on travel costs.
And it removes the fun of promotion-relegation.
I agree with this. Some provinces will never be able to win the comp if they split the teams in a North and a South pool. It's good that at least some of those provinces have another title to play for (the Championship title). If this change goes ahead, I think they should at least do what they've done in the Heartland Championship, and let the numbers 5 - 8 play for another piece of silverware (like the Lochore Cup). But that would reduce the savings they'll make from changing the format, which I can't imagine being very big anyway, if they're going to add 4 cross-over games.
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@Nepia said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
Unsurprising that it's the Magpies best chance at getting back in the 1st Division in a while so NZR decide to change the format.
Hmmm.... the Magpies might get promoted
The NZRU drone dusts off an ancient red ringbinder, checks emergency instructions
Aha! An urgent restructure of the entire competition is called for
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@Kiwiwomble said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
my big problem with the north south thing is, and the article says as much, the North is really the only one that will save money. But the north also is drawing on a much bigger population base, greater auckland and hamilton is like 2M people, So they have a greater ability to raise money.
so we're saying to someone like southland, you have one of the smallest populations...and not only are you not going to be able to save some money, we still want you to fly to the north island...but we're going to limit the games you can make money off
I assume that NZR still pays for flights through a sponsorship deal with Air NZ so there would be a net saving to NZR. If the unions now pay for all travel costs I can understand the criticism of the proposed new format.
I did read an article where Southland stated they will be disadvantaged and suggested a fairer system to spread the costs of travel more evenly.
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@Bovidae said in North and South divisions in the NPC?:
I did read an article where Southland stated they will be disadvantaged and suggested a fairer system to spread the costs of travel more evenly.
They do know that they will get home games don't they?
Perhaps they mean that leaving Invercargill is more expensive than going there due to demand?
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