New Zealand Rugby has reinforced its support for Super Rugby Pacific, ending speculation the governing body could walk away from the competition amid a dire financial outlook.
NZR on Thursday issued a statement confirming its commitment to both SRP and the National Provincial Championship, but with rugby operations to be consolidated into the five home cities of the Super Rugby franchises.
Last month, a leaked report had revealed a move away from Super Rugby would be discussed at a national rugby summit, with the powerful provincial unions understood to be driving the potential change.
But the financials behind the proposal never appeared to stack up commercially, and NZR has instead moved to find savings elsewhere as it confronts a potential $[NZ]66m loss over the next five years.
"New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has today confirmed the direction of the country's elite men's rugby competition and streamlined player pathways that underpin it," the statement read.
"Currently, Super Rugby Pacific and the NPC operate as New Zealand's two men's competitions, supported by 19 professional rugby environments across five Super Rugby clubs and 14 Provincial Unions.
"The changes confirm Super Rugby Pacific and the NPC as the right competitions to support the continued success of the All Blacks, develop players and excite fans.
"NZR and Rugby Australia will work together alongside Super Rugby clubs and the respective players associations to transform how Super Rugby Pacific engages fans, attracts investors and generates revenue.
"The NPC will remain a strong 14-team provincial competition that is critical to building depth, connecting rugby to the regions and providing pathways for players across the country.
"The Super Rugby and Provincial Union operations in the same five cities will be consolidated to drive better community rugby, high performance and financial outcomes."
While New Zealand has dominated Super Rugby Pacific, which will revert to a 10-team competition in 2027, the competition has for many years failed to resonate with fans in the same way it used to.
Part of that has been down to the poor performance of Australia's franchises, none of which reached the final four this season.
Talk of cross-border movement and even a player draft has long been mooted as a means to help improve the performance of the Australian teams, and it may finally be a serious option with NZR boss Steve Lancaster saying fan engagement would be an increased focus moving forward.
"We're aligned with Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby clubs that we need people who wake up every day focused on engaging fans, growing revenue and working with broadcasters and the media," Lancaster said.
"We're open to working on things like player movement, a competition-wide salary cap and centralising commercial assets across the key markets.
"Those are conversations we will now have with Rugby Australia, the Rugby Players Association and the Super Rugby clubs. We know it's a great product on the field and it now needs to generate the level of attendance and revenue that it warrants."
News of NZR's long-term commitment will comfort Rugby Australia officials, who currently find themselves locked in CBA negotiations with the Rugby Union Players Association.
NZR and RA have built an improved working relationship since the onset of the COVID pandemic when the two parties were at one stage as far apart as they had ever been. The governing bodies have worked together in the creation of an historic Anzac Test match in Brisbane next year, after initial resistance from NZR.
But with a shared rival in rugby league and the aggressive NRL, and a need to present a united position at key World Rugby meetings, RA and NZR can now set about enhancing Super Rugby and reengaging its lapsed audience.
That is likely to be headed up by the Super Rugby Pacific Commission and chief executive Jack Mesley, leaving NZR to focus on the NPC and its other key pathways.
"The NPC is absolutely the jewel in New Zealand rugby's pathway and provides opportunities for players wherever they are in the country. It keeps our playing base wide and is critical to player, coach and referee development.," NZR chief rugby officer Mike Collin said.
"While these changes will reduce duplication and cost, more importantly they simplify rugby operations and player pathways in our major cities and ensure we are operating as one team from community rugby through to the All Blacks.
"We want the community and professional game working as one, with a single, clear pathway for talented school leavers into professional and international rugby."