DELTA LLOYD
1. Roberto Bérmudez de Castero/ESP – skipper
2. Matthew Gregory/USA - navigator
3. Sander Pluijm/NED -MCM
4. Stuart Wilson/NZL – watch captain
5. Ryan Houston/NZL – watch captain
6. Edwin O’Connor/IRL – trimmer
7. Martin Watts/GBR – trimmer
8. Peter Van Nierkerk/ NED – helmsman
9. Eduard van Lierde//NED – helmsman
10. Gerd-Jan Poortman/NED – bowman
11. Morgan White/AUS - bowman
No changes
ERICSSON 4
1. Torben Grael/BRA - skipper
2. Jules Salter/GBR - navigator
3. Guy Salter/GBR - MCM
4. Brad Jackson/NZL – watch captain
5. Stu Bannatyne/NZL – watch captain
6. Dave Endean/NZL - pitman
7. Horacio Carabelli/BRA - trimmer
8. Tony Mutter/NZL - trimmer
9. Joao Signorini/BRA - trimmer
10. Ryan Godfrey/AUS - bowman
11. Phil Jameson/NZL – bowman
No changes
ERICSSON 3
1. Anders Lewander/SWE - skipper
2. Aksel Magdahl/NOR - navigator
3. Gustav Morin/SWE MCM
4. Richard Mason/NZL - watch captain
5. Magnus Olsson/SWE – watch captain
6. Thomas Johanson/FIN - helmsman
7. Eivind Melleby/NOR – helmsman
8. Martin Strömberg/SWE – trimmer
9. Jens Dolmer/DEN - pitman
10. Anders Dahlsjö/SWE - mastman
11. Martin Krite/SWE - Bowman
No changes
GREEN DRAGON
1. Ian Walker/GBR - skipper
2. Steve Hayles/GBR - navigator
3. Guo Chuan/CHN - MCM
4. Damian Foxall/IRL – watch captain
5. Neal McDonald/GBR – watch captain
6. Anthony Merrington/AUS – helmsman/trimmer
7. Phil Harmer/AUS – helmsman/trimmer
8. Tom Braidwood/AUS – pitman/trimmer
9. Andrew Mclean/NZL – pitman/trimmer
10. Freddie Shanks/GBR - bowman
11. Justin Slattery/IRL – bowman
ON: Steve Hayles/GBR – navigator
James Carroll/IRL – pitman
OFF: Ian Moore/IRL – navigator OFF
Tom Braidwood/AUS – pitman/trimmer
PUMA OCEAN RACING
1. Ken Read/USA - skipper
2. Andrew Cape/AUS - navigator
3. Rick Deppe/GBR MCM
4. Sidney Gavignet/FRA – watch captain
5. Chris Nicholson/AUS – watch captain
6. Robert Greenhalgh/GBR – helmsman/trimmer
7. Michael Müller/GER – helmsman/bowman
8. Rob Salthouse/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
9. Casey Smith/AUS – bowman
10. Shannon Falcone/ANT – trimmer/pitman
11. Justin Ferris/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
On: Robert Greenhalgh/GBR – helmsman/trimmer
Off: Robert Naismith/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
TEAM RUSSIA
1. Andreas Hanakamp/AUT - skipper
2. Wouter Verbraak/NED - navigator
3. Sergey Bogdanov/RUS - MCM
4. Stig Westergaard/DEN – watch captain
5. Nick Bubb/GBR – watch captain
6. Rodion Luka/UKR - helmsman
7. Jeremy Elliott/IRL - trimmer
8. Ben Costello/NZL - trimmer
9. Mike Joubert/RSA - bowman
10. Camron Wills/RSA – trimmer
11. Scott Gray/GBR – bowman/Pitman
On: Sergey Bogdanov/RUS - MCM
Scott Gray/GBR – bowman/Pitman
Off: Oleg Zherebtsov
Mark Covell/GBR – MCM
TELEFÓNICA BLUE
1. Bouwe Bekking/NED - skipper
2. Iker Martinez/ESP - co-skipper/helmsman
3. Simon Fisher/GBR- navigator
4. Gabriele Olivo/ITA - MCM
5. Jonathan Swain/RSA – watch captain
6. Jordi Calafat ESP – helmsman
7. Tom Addis/AUS - helmsman
8. Xabier Fernandez/ESP - trimmer
9. Pablo Arrarte/ESP Spanish - trimmer
10. Daryl Wislang/NZL - bowman
11. Pepe Ribes/ESP - bowman
On: Tom Addis/AUS - helmsman
Off Laurent Pages/FRA – helmsman
TELEFÓNICA BLACK
1. Fernando Echávarri/ESP- skipper
2. Roger Nilson/SWE - navigator
3. Mikel Pasabant/ESP - MCM
4. Santiago Lange/ARG – watch captain
5. Gonzalo Araujo/ESP – watch captain
6. Jaime Arbones/ESP – watch captain
7. Pablo Iglesias/ESP - helmsman
8. Javier De La Plaza/ESP - helmsman
9. David Vera/ESP - trimmer
10. Antonio Cuervas-Mons/ESP - trimmer
11. Michael Pammenter/RSA - bowman
On: Pablo Iglesias/ESP - helmsman
Off: Maciel Cicchetti/ARG - helmsman
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Cricket : Surrey announce new cricket manager
Thursday 11th December 2008, The Brit Oval, London – Surrey County Cricket Club today announced the appointment of Chris Adams as its Professional Cricket Manager on a three year deal.
After what proved to be a lengthy negotiation process, Adams joins the Club after retiring from a twenty year first-class career with Sussex and Derbyshire. His playing days culminated in him leading Sussex to an unlikely victory over Nottinghamshire in the final match of the NatWest Pro40 Division One season, a win which secured the seventh piece of silverware in his ten year reign at the helm. This makes him one of the most successful county captains of recent times.
During his first class career, Adams scored 19,535 runs at an average of 38.68, playing five Test Matches and five One Day Internationals for England. His inspirational captaincy was credited by many as the reason for Sussex’s regular silverware over recent years.
Whilst in Hove, Adams skippered Sussex to the LV County Championship Division Two title in 2001, was victorious in the top division two years later and then won back to back titles in 2006 and 2007.
He also brought success to the county in the One Day arena, taking home the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy in 2006, the NatWest Pro40 Division Two title in 2005 and the Division One title in 2008.
The signing of Adams comes shortly after Surrey announced that Club legend Graham Thorpe would be returning to the Brit Oval as a specialist batting coach. Thorpe will be supporting Adams and working with batsmen at all levels of the Club.
Speaking after signing his contract, Adams said: “I am delighted to join Surrey at this stage. Although there is sadness that I won’t walk out again as a player, that is overridden by my desire to take on this new challenge.
“It is a huge privilege for me to leave one role and walk straight into this amazing opportunity. Surrey are a big club with some high performing players and I look forward to working alongside the guys as we look to bring long-term success back to the Brit Oval.
“There is nothing more rewarding than leading a group of men to great success. I’ve done that as a captain and now intend to do it again as a manager.”
His passion was echoed by Gus Mackay, the Managing Director of Surrey Cricket who added “Securing Chris’ services after what was a very thorough recruitment process is fantastic for the Club. His experience, expertise and work ethic is exactly what we need to help instill a culture that will help us become a successful Club once more.
He added: “From his time at Sussex he knows a thing or two about winning trophies and I’m confident that he is the man to bring these winning ways back to Surrey in the coming years. We firmly believe that we need strong leadership off the field during this period of rebuilding and Chris is a natural leader of people. I wish him every success.”
After what proved to be a lengthy negotiation process, Adams joins the Club after retiring from a twenty year first-class career with Sussex and Derbyshire. His playing days culminated in him leading Sussex to an unlikely victory over Nottinghamshire in the final match of the NatWest Pro40 Division One season, a win which secured the seventh piece of silverware in his ten year reign at the helm. This makes him one of the most successful county captains of recent times.
During his first class career, Adams scored 19,535 runs at an average of 38.68, playing five Test Matches and five One Day Internationals for England. His inspirational captaincy was credited by many as the reason for Sussex’s regular silverware over recent years.
Whilst in Hove, Adams skippered Sussex to the LV County Championship Division Two title in 2001, was victorious in the top division two years later and then won back to back titles in 2006 and 2007.
He also brought success to the county in the One Day arena, taking home the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy in 2006, the NatWest Pro40 Division Two title in 2005 and the Division One title in 2008.
The signing of Adams comes shortly after Surrey announced that Club legend Graham Thorpe would be returning to the Brit Oval as a specialist batting coach. Thorpe will be supporting Adams and working with batsmen at all levels of the Club.
Speaking after signing his contract, Adams said: “I am delighted to join Surrey at this stage. Although there is sadness that I won’t walk out again as a player, that is overridden by my desire to take on this new challenge.
“It is a huge privilege for me to leave one role and walk straight into this amazing opportunity. Surrey are a big club with some high performing players and I look forward to working alongside the guys as we look to bring long-term success back to the Brit Oval.
“There is nothing more rewarding than leading a group of men to great success. I’ve done that as a captain and now intend to do it again as a manager.”
His passion was echoed by Gus Mackay, the Managing Director of Surrey Cricket who added “Securing Chris’ services after what was a very thorough recruitment process is fantastic for the Club. His experience, expertise and work ethic is exactly what we need to help instill a culture that will help us become a successful Club once more.
He added: “From his time at Sussex he knows a thing or two about winning trophies and I’m confident that he is the man to bring these winning ways back to Surrey in the coming years. We firmly believe that we need strong leadership off the field during this period of rebuilding and Chris is a natural leader of people. I wish him every success.”
Motorsport : Statement From FOTA Chairman
Maranello, 11th December - After yesterday's meeting at Monte Carlo with FIA President Max Mosley and the team principals of all Formula One teams, lead by FOTA Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, the latter made the following statement:
"I am very glad about the climate of enormous collaboration at the meeting. There is a common sense of the difficult moment of our sport. Yesterday we could see the great responsibility of all the participants. The world-wide economical crisis and the enormous increase of costs in Formula One over the last years lead the FIA and its President to give a strong and right impulse to cut costs as of 2010 to get our sport back into acceptable economical dimensions, so all teams will be able to participate. The answer we could find was beyond our all expectations. The extreme compactness, never seen before, and all the participant’s passion for this sport brought the FOTA members to go beyond the requests made by President Mosley, taking into account courageous proposals, while voting unanimously for a substantial reduction of costs already as of 2009, which will be the most difficult year for the world economy and for the automotive industry in particular."
"The proposals presented to President Mosley, with Formula One’s DNA in mind - made of technology and sportiness - will enable us to drastically cut costs as of the upcoming season to have a complete new Formula One in the year 2012, projected into the future, distinguishing itself by an innovative spirit and great attention as far as the environment is concerned, but on economic levels as in the 90s, while maintaining the fascinating challenges, which is one of the factors why this sport is one of the most popular sports in the world."
"President Mosley appreciated our proposals, which will be examined tomorrow by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. We, as FOTA, will continue our work also in other areas, such as the race weekend format, and we want to determine the details for the upcoming years, bearing in mind the observations expressed by Mosley yesterday. I am extremely proud of the work FOTA has done so far; an association, which didn’t exist until last September and which united the teams, going beyond their rivalry, the salt of racing, but which could have been an obstacle on the way redesigning the future of Formula One. There is still much left to do, also because when we have a look at the economic side of the companies and not only the ones of the F1 teams, we have to consider the costs but also the earnings. In this sense yesterday we managed to agree with the FIA on the necessity to organize a meeting with FOM to discuss the earnings of the Formula One teams."
"I am very glad about the climate of enormous collaboration at the meeting. There is a common sense of the difficult moment of our sport. Yesterday we could see the great responsibility of all the participants. The world-wide economical crisis and the enormous increase of costs in Formula One over the last years lead the FIA and its President to give a strong and right impulse to cut costs as of 2010 to get our sport back into acceptable economical dimensions, so all teams will be able to participate. The answer we could find was beyond our all expectations. The extreme compactness, never seen before, and all the participant’s passion for this sport brought the FOTA members to go beyond the requests made by President Mosley, taking into account courageous proposals, while voting unanimously for a substantial reduction of costs already as of 2009, which will be the most difficult year for the world economy and for the automotive industry in particular."
"The proposals presented to President Mosley, with Formula One’s DNA in mind - made of technology and sportiness - will enable us to drastically cut costs as of the upcoming season to have a complete new Formula One in the year 2012, projected into the future, distinguishing itself by an innovative spirit and great attention as far as the environment is concerned, but on economic levels as in the 90s, while maintaining the fascinating challenges, which is one of the factors why this sport is one of the most popular sports in the world."
"President Mosley appreciated our proposals, which will be examined tomorrow by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. We, as FOTA, will continue our work also in other areas, such as the race weekend format, and we want to determine the details for the upcoming years, bearing in mind the observations expressed by Mosley yesterday. I am extremely proud of the work FOTA has done so far; an association, which didn’t exist until last September and which united the teams, going beyond their rivalry, the salt of racing, but which could have been an obstacle on the way redesigning the future of Formula One. There is still much left to do, also because when we have a look at the economic side of the companies and not only the ones of the F1 teams, we have to consider the costs but also the earnings. In this sense yesterday we managed to agree with the FIA on the necessity to organize a meeting with FOM to discuss the earnings of the Formula One teams."
tennis : WEST END NZMT 4 MAIN DRAW KICKS OFF TODAY
The main draw of the West End Cup NZMT 4 in association with Configure Express kicked off this morning at 9am with the first two rounds completed. Auckland's Troy Turnbull had two straight set wins to reach the third round and now faces seventh seed Steven Downs.
Anton Bettink continues his good run of wins beating Jordan Kelly-Houston who is currently NZ's highest ITF Junior ranking in three sets, then went on beat Nigel Espie to reach the third round. Bettink faces eighth seed Jackson Bodle.
In the other side of the draw Canterbury's James Meredith and Remi Feneon had straight set wins in the first two rounds and will face Teo Susnjak and Robert Cheyne respectively.
The men's third round is at 11.30am and quarterfinals at 3.30pm which seeds the top four seeds Adam Thompson, Mark Nielsen, Matthew Prentice and Adam Thompson take the court.
In the women's draw Leora Hemmerich (Germany) had too wins against Carli Davis and Lucy Bird to reach the third round and faces fifth seed Pavlina Nola in the third round. NZ's Taylor Douglas who has been based in Australia also won through and plays seventh seed Sarah McDermott. Brittany Teei has come back from Australia from a few weeks of training and won her two rounds of matches. Teei plays Tanya Samodelok in the third round. Kataraina Hunia had a lucky draw today getting a bye in the first round and then a walkover in the second round.
The women's third round is at 10.15am and the women's quarterfinals are scheduled for 2.15pm with seeds Kairangi Vano, Leanne Baker, Shona Lee and Dianne Hollands all set to play.
Click here for the results http://tennisnz.infonetwork.com/tournaments/results.asp?tid=5185881
Click here for the draws http://tennisnz.infonetwork.com/tournaments/draws.asp?tid=5185881
Anton Bettink continues his good run of wins beating Jordan Kelly-Houston who is currently NZ's highest ITF Junior ranking in three sets, then went on beat Nigel Espie to reach the third round. Bettink faces eighth seed Jackson Bodle.
In the other side of the draw Canterbury's James Meredith and Remi Feneon had straight set wins in the first two rounds and will face Teo Susnjak and Robert Cheyne respectively.
The men's third round is at 11.30am and quarterfinals at 3.30pm which seeds the top four seeds Adam Thompson, Mark Nielsen, Matthew Prentice and Adam Thompson take the court.
In the women's draw Leora Hemmerich (Germany) had too wins against Carli Davis and Lucy Bird to reach the third round and faces fifth seed Pavlina Nola in the third round. NZ's Taylor Douglas who has been based in Australia also won through and plays seventh seed Sarah McDermott. Brittany Teei has come back from Australia from a few weeks of training and won her two rounds of matches. Teei plays Tanya Samodelok in the third round. Kataraina Hunia had a lucky draw today getting a bye in the first round and then a walkover in the second round.
The women's third round is at 10.15am and the women's quarterfinals are scheduled for 2.15pm with seeds Kairangi Vano, Leanne Baker, Shona Lee and Dianne Hollands all set to play.
Click here for the results http://tennisnz.infonetwork.com/tournaments/results.asp?tid=5185881
Click here for the draws http://tennisnz.infonetwork.com/tournaments/draws.asp?tid=5185881
Rugby : NZRU provides assistance to Provincial Unions
The New Zealand Rugby Union will provide immediate assistance to New Zealand’s 26 Provincial Unions in response to the worsening economic conditions and the strong financial position it has built up, including an estimated surplus in 2008 in excess of $7.5 million.
In providing the assistance, the NZRU has also signalled that the cost base and rugby structures in New Zealand need further work.
The announcement of a three-pronged financial assistance package follows the final NZRU Board meeting of the year on Thursday 11 December at which the Board was presented with an update on the financial health of Provincial Unions and the NZRU’s projected 2008 results.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew said the NZRU was in the fortunate position of recording a surplus for the 2008 year which, while not finalised, is likely to be in excess of $7.5 million, helped largely by favourable foreign exchange movements during the year.
“We have been successful in managing our costs in 2008 to ensure we have achieved a small operating surplus. On top of that, we have had significant gains as a result of the falling New Zealand dollar which will add to our strong reserves position and also makes good on the losses recorded in 2006 and 2007.”
Mr Tew said the NZRU had received requests for financial help from a number of Provincial Unions, particularly at the Air New Zealand Cup level, and as a result of the NZRU performance in 2008 was in a position where it could provide assistance.
However, he noted that the Provincial Unions and their communities would need to work hard to raise the necessary funding to sustain them in this competition.
“At a meeting of all Provincial Unions and Rebel Sport Super 14 Franchises last week in Auckland, options were discussed as to how and in what circumstances the NZRU could or should provide assistance to Unions.
“Based on those discussions and the Board’s consideration we have put in place a package of assistance which is substantive, targeted and relative to the current environment, while recognising that there is more work that needs to be done to address the cost base of the Air New Zealand Cup competition and its participants.”
Assistance Package
The assistance package for Provincial Unions comprises:
1. An immediate one off payment to all 26 Provincial Unions equal to the amount of one quarter of the annual core grant distribution with a minimum payment to Air New Zealand Cup Unions of $150,000;
2. The creation of a provision of $1.2 million representing 75 percent of All Blacks player payments contained in Provincial Union contracts (subject to a pro rata reduction based on games played in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup by those players); and
3. The creation of a Support Fund of $1 million to assist Provincial Unions in addressing the cost base/structure of their organisations to achieve a more appropriate and sustainable level.
Under the current NZRU funding model, Provincial Unions receive their annual grants through four quarterly payments. In effect, the immediate special distribution payment (point 1 above) is equivalent to one additional quarterly payment for the 2008 year.
The All Blacks player payments, which will be paid in 2009, will help recognise the limited role that All Blacks play in the Air New Zealand Cup and that the cost of paying those players is better met at the national level. This initiative is consistent with some of the discussions which have taken place during the Air New Zealand Cup, Franchise Structure and SANZAR Competitions reviews.
The third initiative is the first step by the NZRU to work with Provincial Unions on structuring Provincial Union and competition structures to achieve a more sustainable platform for Provincial rugby.
“It is now clearly obvious to everyone that we as a sport are struggling to sustain the cost base of this competition in its current form so we have signalled that we want to work with our Provincial Unions to address this,” Mr Tew said.
Tasman and Northland
Mr Tew said the specific conditions with respect to Tasman and Northland’s inclusion in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup had also been reviewed by the Board. Northland has made progress in meeting the conditions which formed part of its submission to the NZRU Board in September and their participation has been confirmed.
The Tasman Rugby Union had made progress on some of the objectives, including a re-commitment to the Union from its two sub-union partners. However, the NZRU has received a request for additional time and additional financial assistance from Tasman so it can meet the financial conditions it submitted in its case for remaining in the Air New Zealand Cup.
“Under the financial assistance package announced today, Tasman will be eligible for the immediate additional payment and will also accrue some additional relief through the All Blacks payment provision in 2009.
“However, the NZRU Board does not believe it is appropriate to provide any further funding assistance. The Tasman union and its partners and communities need to demonstrate that they can operate at the Air New Zealand Cup level under their own steam, and on the same basis as the other Provincial Unions in that competition.”
Tasman have been given until Wednesday 17 December to respond to the NZRU on its submission for entry to the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup.
Future risks
Mr Tew said while it was envisaged that the special package announced today would help address some of the immediate financial risks being faced by Provincial Unions, the NZRU was aware that the economic environment may yet worsen before it improves.
“We have tried to take a prudent and pragmatic approach in providing help and in terms of the budget we have set for the NZRU in 2009, while recognising that there may be further challenges in the year ahead.”
Mr Tew said it was also hoped that Provincial Unions would use the special distribution to improve their financial situation and not make decisions which might add to their cost base.
In providing the assistance, the NZRU has also signalled that the cost base and rugby structures in New Zealand need further work.
The announcement of a three-pronged financial assistance package follows the final NZRU Board meeting of the year on Thursday 11 December at which the Board was presented with an update on the financial health of Provincial Unions and the NZRU’s projected 2008 results.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew said the NZRU was in the fortunate position of recording a surplus for the 2008 year which, while not finalised, is likely to be in excess of $7.5 million, helped largely by favourable foreign exchange movements during the year.
“We have been successful in managing our costs in 2008 to ensure we have achieved a small operating surplus. On top of that, we have had significant gains as a result of the falling New Zealand dollar which will add to our strong reserves position and also makes good on the losses recorded in 2006 and 2007.”
Mr Tew said the NZRU had received requests for financial help from a number of Provincial Unions, particularly at the Air New Zealand Cup level, and as a result of the NZRU performance in 2008 was in a position where it could provide assistance.
However, he noted that the Provincial Unions and their communities would need to work hard to raise the necessary funding to sustain them in this competition.
“At a meeting of all Provincial Unions and Rebel Sport Super 14 Franchises last week in Auckland, options were discussed as to how and in what circumstances the NZRU could or should provide assistance to Unions.
“Based on those discussions and the Board’s consideration we have put in place a package of assistance which is substantive, targeted and relative to the current environment, while recognising that there is more work that needs to be done to address the cost base of the Air New Zealand Cup competition and its participants.”
Assistance Package
The assistance package for Provincial Unions comprises:
1. An immediate one off payment to all 26 Provincial Unions equal to the amount of one quarter of the annual core grant distribution with a minimum payment to Air New Zealand Cup Unions of $150,000;
2. The creation of a provision of $1.2 million representing 75 percent of All Blacks player payments contained in Provincial Union contracts (subject to a pro rata reduction based on games played in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup by those players); and
3. The creation of a Support Fund of $1 million to assist Provincial Unions in addressing the cost base/structure of their organisations to achieve a more appropriate and sustainable level.
Under the current NZRU funding model, Provincial Unions receive their annual grants through four quarterly payments. In effect, the immediate special distribution payment (point 1 above) is equivalent to one additional quarterly payment for the 2008 year.
The All Blacks player payments, which will be paid in 2009, will help recognise the limited role that All Blacks play in the Air New Zealand Cup and that the cost of paying those players is better met at the national level. This initiative is consistent with some of the discussions which have taken place during the Air New Zealand Cup, Franchise Structure and SANZAR Competitions reviews.
The third initiative is the first step by the NZRU to work with Provincial Unions on structuring Provincial Union and competition structures to achieve a more sustainable platform for Provincial rugby.
“It is now clearly obvious to everyone that we as a sport are struggling to sustain the cost base of this competition in its current form so we have signalled that we want to work with our Provincial Unions to address this,” Mr Tew said.
Tasman and Northland
Mr Tew said the specific conditions with respect to Tasman and Northland’s inclusion in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup had also been reviewed by the Board. Northland has made progress in meeting the conditions which formed part of its submission to the NZRU Board in September and their participation has been confirmed.
The Tasman Rugby Union had made progress on some of the objectives, including a re-commitment to the Union from its two sub-union partners. However, the NZRU has received a request for additional time and additional financial assistance from Tasman so it can meet the financial conditions it submitted in its case for remaining in the Air New Zealand Cup.
“Under the financial assistance package announced today, Tasman will be eligible for the immediate additional payment and will also accrue some additional relief through the All Blacks payment provision in 2009.
“However, the NZRU Board does not believe it is appropriate to provide any further funding assistance. The Tasman union and its partners and communities need to demonstrate that they can operate at the Air New Zealand Cup level under their own steam, and on the same basis as the other Provincial Unions in that competition.”
Tasman have been given until Wednesday 17 December to respond to the NZRU on its submission for entry to the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup.
Future risks
Mr Tew said while it was envisaged that the special package announced today would help address some of the immediate financial risks being faced by Provincial Unions, the NZRU was aware that the economic environment may yet worsen before it improves.
“We have tried to take a prudent and pragmatic approach in providing help and in terms of the budget we have set for the NZRU in 2009, while recognising that there may be further challenges in the year ahead.”
Mr Tew said it was also hoped that Provincial Unions would use the special distribution to improve their financial situation and not make decisions which might add to their cost base.
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