NZRU meeting might impact on Otago's future

A NEW Zealand Rugby Union board meeting tomorrow could decide the fate of the beleaguered Otago union.

Discussions between stakeholders, Otago Rugby Union officials, the Bank of New Zealand and NZRU chairman Mike Eagle and chief executive Steve Tew took place in Dunedin on Monday night.

While the union was still unable to report on its financial loss for the last financial year, it did talk about the need for it to increase its revenue. Officials say not a lot of costs could be taken out of the business at this stage.

A NZRU board meeting tomorrow is likely to decide what input, if any, the national organisation has.

Tew was keeping tight-lipped on the situation.

“We are working on gathering all the facts and possible solutions. The situation is very serious and we are working with all the interested and affected parties to find the best way forward,” he told the Otago Daily Times.

“The purpose of my visit has been to advance those discussions, but it is not appropriate to say any more than that at this stage.”

Charge manager Jeremy Curragh says the union has no choice but to increase its revenue stream.

“We have to work to show the union is going to be viable. We've got to make sure the business case stacks up,” he says.

“There are contracts signed up which we cannot walk away from. We want to honour those contracts. We do really need to increase our revenue streams.”

He says the discussion on Monday night were positive.

“Things have been changing daily, as new information comes to light. We've had good discussions with all of the key parties on what we need to do to move forward.”