Taranaki Rugby joins the Chiefs

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MEDIA RELEASE from the TARANAKI RFU
10 December 2013

The Chiefs region has today been extended to include the province of Taranaki, ending the Taranaki Rugby Football Union’s (TRFU) 17 year association with the Hurricanes.

Taranaki Rugby is one of six Provincial Unions who, in conjunction with a group of private investors, has been granted a seven year licence by New Zealand Rugby to operate the current Investec Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs. The newly formed organisation will be known as Chiefs Rugby Club Limited Partnership (CRC).

Under the new arrangement Taranaki will host two competition games in 2014 and in 2015 at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth. At least one game per calendar year will be a Category A game (Chiefs vs another New Zealand team) with the other game being a Category B fixture (Chiefs vs a South African or Australian team). Waikato Stadium will continue to host a minimum of five competition games per year. Post 2015 Chiefs games will be allocated on a year by year basis.

The Chiefs will play their first game at Yarrow Stadium against the Blues on the 9th of May 2014, and will return three weeks later to take on the Waratahs on Saturday, May the 31st.
TRFU Chairman Lindsay Thomson said Taranaki’s inclusion in the Chiefs region could benefit the whole community.

“Taranaki Rugby is excited to have the opportunity to be an investor and stakeholder in the licence being issued to the new owners of the Chiefs. This gives an opportunity to the Taranaki rugby public to be able to watch regular Investec Super Rugby games at Yarrow Stadium, in what is the best professional rugby competition in the world.

Having high quality games in our own back yard allows us to foster and grow the game in the Taranaki province.

“Furthermore we’ve learned from previous events that hosting quality rugby games at Yarrow Stadium has flow‐on benefits for the wider Taranaki community. Hospitality and accommodation providers in particular can benefit from an increased number of visitors to the region and with the Chiefs being the current Investec Super Rugby champions, we anticipate a high level of interest in the 2014 fixtures to be played at Yarrow Stadium.

“Hosting regular Investec Super Rugby fixtures in Taranaki at a world class facility like Yarrow Stadium, offers a unique promotional opportunity for our province. Attracting more people to our region to watch games live and experience Taranaki, combined with increased exposure through televised games provides an excellent platform for further promoting Taranaki to the world” said Thomson.

The 3.3 million dollar investment into CRC has been made by the Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, King Country and Taranaki provincial unions who jointly make up 50% of the capital investment and a number of private investors who contributed the other 50%.

The capital investment breakdown is as follows:

Provincial Unions;
Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union 11.55%
Waikato Rugby Union 11.55%
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union 11.55%
Taranaki Rugby Football Union 11.55%
Thames Valley Rugby Football Union 1.9%
King Country Rugby Football Union 1.9%
Private Investors;
Waikato Syndicate 24.93%
Taranaki Syndicate 11.18%
Private investor 13.89%

The Taranaki Rugby Football Union initially turned down an opportunity to continue under the Hurricanes franchise umbrella. The TRFU was approached in August 2012 by the Wellington Rugby Football Union and was invited to participate in purchasing the Hurricanes licence. Under that proposal, the TRFU would have acquired a 10% share of the licence, alongside any other provincial unions in the Hurricanes region who chose to invest, as well as private investors. The Wellington RFU held the remaining 50%.

The arrangement meant no guarantee of games for the Taranaki province, other than the normal allocation of 1 game every 3 years. The TRFU Board declined the invitation in September 2012 citing that the required investment capital was too significant and not an appropriate use of reserves at the time.

In the following months the TRFU was invited to consider investing in the Chiefs. An establishment group consisting of the Chiefs region Provincial Union Chairman’s and TRFU Chairman Lindsay Thomson entered discussions to ascertain whether the capital necessary to purchase the Chiefs licence could be raised. Following lengthy discussions, a proposal was formed and ultimately accepted by New Zealand Rugby who consequently granted a seven year licence to the new owners.

Taranaki Rugby CEO Mike Collins acknowledged Taranaki’s long history with the Hurricanes and shared his enthusiasm for Taranaki’s future with the Chiefs.

“Taranaki Rugby is very proud of our shared history with the Hurricanes, and we thank them for 17 years of friendship. We’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with them and wish the Hurricanes a successful and prosperous future.

“We are not asking the Taranaki public, especially the stoic Hurricanes supporters to switch their allegiance to the Chiefs. Taranaki has players in four out of five New Zealand Super Rugby teams and we will continue to support and encourage them all. This is about making the most of a commercial opportunity and acting in the best interests of Taranaki Rugby and the wider Taranaki community.

“As a Union, we are very excited to be a part of the new era of the Chiefs Rugby Club. We’re very pleased to be able to bring Investec Super Rugby games to Taranaki on a regular basis under this new partnership, beginning with a local derby between the Chiefs and the Blues in May 2014. We’re already seeing great development opportunities for players through our new affiliation with the Chiefs and look forward to forging a successful future together” said Collins.

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