NPC Underdog in difficulties

CMRFU community appeal

Wed 17 Jun 2009

Counties Manukau Rugby is calling for all rugby members and the public to
attend a meeting about the future of Counties Manukau Rugby at Growers
Stadium on Monday June 22 at 7.30pm.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the issues surrounding the
Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union, its financial status, the structure
of the Air New Zealand Cup for 2010 and beyond as indicated by the NZRU,
the survival of the CMRFU in the Air New Zealand Cup or other
competitions, and the form the CMRFU takes in the future and the
ramifications.
It has been well documented that Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is
suffering financially due to their major sponsor Tribro going into
receivership and receiving no payout from the Chiefs Franchise, in
addition to the huge costs of meeting compliance from NZRU by running
games at Mt Smart Stadium. In an authoritarian manner, NZRU has offered
to bail out CMRFU. However there was a list of criteria attached to the
offer, which included dropping out of Air New Zealand Cup and going into a
lower division which would make other Unions stronger and give the
Counties Manukau players, coaches and support staff no direct professional
pathways and severely weaken Club Rugby. The CMRFU Board felt that the
strings attached to the NZRU's offer would be so detrimental to Counties
Manukau Rugby they declined the offer, subject to meeting stakeholders and
developing a stable financial model outlining a sustainable future for the
CMRFU.
Now the question remains: Does the public of the Counties Manukau Region
care enough to get behind the Union and fight for their survival as did
the Northland community and show New Zealand Rugby Union that Counties
Manukau does not want to be a low division province?
CEO Phil McConnell said "We need to let our public know what is going on
and give them a voice. We still believe enough people care about the
province that has created such greats as Jonah Lomu, Joeli Vidiri, Pat
Walsh, Andy Daltons, Rod Ketels, Bruce Robertson, John Spiers, Mark
Cooksley, Alan Dawson, Errol Brain, Jim Coe, and our most recent All Black
squad member Lelia Masaga, to save our Union.
The Union, has put systems in place that are starting to pay off, with
over 80% of the Steelers being home grown talent. Whilst the Union
acknowledges that not all decisions in the past have been popular, now is
the time for the region to unite and fight to save the future of Counties
Manukau Rugby. As part of the first stage of that fight for survival, the
Union needs to get crowd support at games and sell 3000 season memberships
which start from as little as $50. A running update of funds raised will
be on their website.
This year Counties Manukau Rugby has finally returned to its home ground
of Growers Stadium with an exciting draw. The new lights provided via the
strong support of the Franklin District Council have enabled night games
to be played for the first time at Growers Stadium. "We are going to
create a great atmosphere for our fans, with giveaways, live entertainment
and we are encouraging everyone to wear red, black and white to support
their team" said Sponsorship Manager Stacey Addenbrooke.
The meeting agenda will include: a Board update; current financial
position update; the NZRU's stance; the Chiefs stance; outline NZRU
competition structures; tabling of the alternatives for the CMRFU; actions
already taken by the CMRFU Board and a plan for the Union going forward -
everybody is welcome.