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ABs return to clubs as ANZ Cup is rethought

Friday 27th June 2008

Anthony Boric: Going back to his roots

New Zeland club rugby will be boosted by the presence of several All Blacks this week, but discussions on how to boost the ailing Air New Zealand Cup are still ongoing.

Graham Henry sent 11 players off to keep themselves match-fit this weekend, with North Harbour's Marist club welcoming three players into their ranks. Prop Tony Woodcock, lock Anthony Boric, and wing Rudi Wulf are all set to play.

Prop John Afoa, fly-half Stephen Donald, centre Richard Kahui, number eight Sione Lauaki, centre Conrad Smith, prop Neemia Tialata, flanker Adam Thomson, and scrum-half Jimmy Cowan are also returning to club action at various corners of New Zealand.

Henry cited the need for a little extra match conditioning as the motivation for the decision.

"These guys will benefit from a run with their club and hopefully the clubs get a boost from having them available," he said.

"We have other players who will be better off with a break. Most of the Crusaders, for example, have had a lot of rugby and will have a chance to freshen up."

The All Blacks squad for the opening Tri-Nations encounters against South Africa wil be confirmed on Sunday, including the replacements for Richie McCaw.

While the clubs will get a boost, the Air New Zealand Cup, which made a loss of nearly NZ$10m last year, is being urgently re-thought, with some sweeping proposals on the table.

The most likely proposal is a reduction in the number of teams - which would have a knock-on effect on the Heartlands Championship - and the creation of a promotion-relegation top tier.

It is not clear which unions would be set to drop out, although Tasman are currently struggling just to stay afloat and Manawatu's financial status has been wobbly for some time, as has Bay of Plenty's.

The reduced-team competition would not start until mid-August, meaning it would not interfere with club competitions. A national club finals day has been mooted for the last weekend in July. However, the ANZ Cup would also then not finish until November, meaning the All Blacks would not be involved.