MSRU boss backs alliance [Marlborough Express]

Marlborough Rugby Sub-Union (MRSU) chairman Dave McCormick confirmed yesterday that his board had no intention of splitting with the Tasman alliance and no wish to see the Red Devils play Heartland rugby.

His statements come after Graeme Taylor, who has resigned from the TRU board, claimed the Marlborough board – of which he is also a member, was too negative towards the Tasman Rugby Union.

McCormick replied, "As a board, we can't control what happens with the New Zealand Rugby Union, but at the moment we are part of Tasman and we have to stand behind that 100 per cent.

"Our job is to get as many players into the Makos as we can and this year the NZRU is starting a national under-19 competition for teams playing in the ITM Cup. That's another avenue for young players. "There are a lot of negative things said about [Tasman] but they are positive. We had a meeting this week with Jenelle Strickland [a TRU official and Makos team manager]. They are going to come to our meetings regularly. It's time to move forward."

McCormick also reacted to criticism from TRU chairman Nick Patterson regarding Marlborough's lack of financial input into the combined coffers, saying it was a little unfair.

"Aaron Senior is our manager over here. It's left up to him to do the marketing over here whereas his Nelson equivalent doesn't do that job. [Marketing manager] Les Edwards does it. Most of our revenue comes from the grape industry and businesses who rely on the grape industry for work are struggling.

"They [Tasman] lived off us for a few years when we had Lansdowne Park, so it's a little bit of a payback."

McCormick doesn't believe the current competitions' structure in New Zealand rugby is sustainable and wouldn't be surprised if at some stage it reverts back to the old three-division format.

He said if that was to happen, Marlborough would always aim to be in the highest grade possible and he has no doubts they would get sufficient support from the local business community to finance the union.

"I don't see our future dropping back to Heartland rugby. It' a good competition but we are better than that. Definitely 100 per cent behind Tasman."

In other developments, McCormick said the Tasman Trophy interclub premier competition would go ahead this year and the format has almost been agreed on.

Six teams from both Marlborough and Nelson Bays will take part, split into two pools of six based on last year's rankings.

Marlborough and Nelson Bays will play a complete round among themselves first, Marlborough's competition starting on April 14.
The Tasman Trophy then starts, leading to a final, and the club season finishes with another local round leading to the normal club finals.

McCormick said all six Marlborough premier clubs were behind the competition and Nelson have accommodated them by agreeing to play two away games each on this side of the hill with Marlborough players only required to travel once.

Player numbers is an ongoing issue for both provinces, but McCormick said the Marlborough clubs were being more pro-active this year in securing players to fill gaps left by those who have left and gone overseas, Makos coach Kieran Keane assisting in several instances.

He said jobs and accommodation were all most players wanted to come to Marlborough and any help in that direction would be much appreciated