Patrick Petelo warns pathway could suffer if NZ Rugby cuts a tier

Former provincial rugby player Patrick Petelo says New Zealand Rugby needs to protect the pathway from grassroots to the All Blacks as it weighs major changes to Super Rugby and the National Provincial Championship (NPC).

NZ Rugby brought about 80 stakeholders together in Wellington on Thursday to discuss options for its men's elite competitions as it looks to address projected losses of $66 million between 2027 and 2031.

No decisions were made at the summit with further work now expected on the options.

Speaking with Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle, Petelo said removing either Super Rugby or the NPC would take away an important step for players coming through the game.

"Each of those tiers whether it be school rugby, club rugby, NPC, right through to Super Rugby, they have real valid positions and importance in the pathway of our game."

Petelo says the focus should not only be on where NZ Rugby can save money but on keeping the game attractive from the bottom up.

Watch Patrick Petelo's full interview below.

"We're looking at the top of the pyramid and maybe we should be protecting the bottom of the pyramid, which is our grassroots."

He says his own experience playing from school and club level through provincial rugby showed him the importance of having a clear path towards higher honours.

Petelo believes the NPC provides more than a stepping stone for players. It also builds a connection between provincial teams and their communities.

The National Provincial Championship is one of the key levels in New Zealand rugby's player pathway, but its future is being considered as NZ Rugby reviews its men's elite competitions. Photo/Photosport/Iain McGregor/file

"What you do is you really find a real heart for playing for your colours."

He says removing that level could leave players facing too big a jump from club rugby into the fully professional Super Rugby environment.

"I think that stepping stone is too big and you're going to lose a massive part of our pathways, and you're also going to lose quite a few players."

With NZ Rugby considering how its competitions could be reshaped, Petelo says a merger could be one option worth examining than simply cutting one competition.

"I think the merger would probably be something that we'd have to consider and what that merger looks like to make sure."

He suggests a competition could sit between club rugby and Super Rugby, giving players a more gradual step into the professional game while keeping provincial connections.

Super Rugby is at the top of New Zealand's professional rugby pathway, with NZ Rugby considering options for the future structure of its men's elite competitions. Photo/Super Rugby

NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster says no decision has been made on the future structure of the game following Thursday's summit with all three options still being considered.

"Over time, over the next several months, one of those options will emerge as the preferred option," Lancaster said.

He also stressed that the projected $66m loss is a five-year forecast based on no changes being made.

"And what I can assure you is that we will not do nothing," he said.

Australian rugby journalist Christy Doran says the future of Super Rugby also needs to be considered from a trans-Tasman perspective than looking at changes within New Zealand.

Doran says one option would be to strengthen the existing competition by increasing the number of games between Australian and New Zealand teams.

NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster says no decision has been made on the future structure of the game, with all three options discussed at Thursday's summit still under consideration. Photo/RNZ/Alan Lee

"I think the easiest and the best solution would be to increase it to a full home and away tournament."

Petelo also points to the growing pull of rugby league particularly the way the New Zealand Warriors and Rugby League New Zealand are engaging young players and communities.

He says rugby can learn from that approach especially its focus on children and grassroots participation.

"The marketing strategy that they have has been just really cut through at a community level. And now everyone's engaging."

Petelo says the response to rugby's financial problems needs to go beyond cutting costs.

"I think we need to market and address that marketing aspect."

Australian rugby journalist Christy Doran has called for a stronger trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition as rugby considers how to build a sustainable future. Photo/X/Christy Doran

He says the priority is getting people excited about rugby again and rebuilding the connection between young players, their communities and the professional game.

"The All Blacks will always be the All Blacks. But I don't think that us not looking after the bottom tier of rugby player, that's the youth, that's the teenage, the club level rugby.

"I think that's, if we don't invest our time and energy into that and putting money into that, I think we're going to find that our sport's going to go pear-shaped a little bit."

The challenge now is finding a sustainable model without weakening the pathway that connects grassroots rugby with the professional game.