North and South divisions in the NPC?
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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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It might be good news for Hawke's and bad news for North Harbour.
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The savings for NZR were/are about $700,000.
At the chairman/ceo's meeting with NZR during the week there was one province which didn't relish being in the South Pool because they would be facing Wellington, Canterbury and Ta$man every year.
The North Island teams in the South Pool would have to spend two nights away when playing each of their four matches in the South Island.
Auckland and Canterbury usually counted a bigger than average gate when playing each other every year and there would be no guarantee they would meet every year.
All sorts of individual "anomalies" like that.
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@Number-10 Who pays for the travel and accommodation? PUs, NZR, or both?
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I am all for splitting Heartland into two island with playoffs following. That makes it more sustainable and likely more enjoyable. But not the same for the top 14 as I feel it is one more step in reducing the importance of this level. Anyway there is no need to rush it as Canterbury was not relegated and we have seen great promotion and relegation battles to stimulate public interest in the closing weeks.
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@Bovidae be good to see a comp with more All Blacks in it , it’s a real irony that the best game of the Mitre 10 Cup was Canterbury v Taranaki Ranfurly Shield match ,with teams stacked with All Blacks ..it’s the fringe All Blacks that really kill some teams , Canterbury losing Dunshea & Grace who were hardly used across the ditch for example .
In terms of 2nd & 3rd best games , The North Harbour v Ta$man game and Harbour v Auckland games were real quality , once again because all teams had reasonable squads on the paddock ..
for me I will be wrapt if the status quo will remain ..there’s a lot to like about how both Bay of Plenty & Hawkes Bay have managed to build their depth as top dogs in the last 2 seasons of the championship and that puts them in good stead for the premiership division ..
