Clubs ‘must’ merge

By KEITH PUARIA
FOUR clubs will have to either merge with the stronger based clubs or face total omission from this year’s amalgamated Capital Rugby Union competition in Port Moresby.
CRU president John Beattie admitted that it was not something that he was keen on doing but the logistics of running a huge competition, which would include all 14 clubs from the two competitions, POMRFU (eight) and CRU (six) from last year would be difficult.
“But we certainly do not want to force clubs out of the competition. It’s a decision that has to be made by the clubs.
“We are certainly not about doing away with clubs, their tradition and history.”
Beattie said accommodating all clubs would mean dividing the games to different ovals and this would make things complicated and costly.
He said his committee was working on a 10-club competition and while POMRFU clubs; University, Defence, Juggernauts, Motuan Warriors, Kone Sharks and Valley Hunters had confirmed their move to CRU to join Harlequins, Wanderers, Brothers, Nova, Chiefs, Spartans, Royals and Lassalians for a 14 club total, a decision would be made on the four.
He added that the draw was in the process of being finalised after delays in the receipt of a couple of club applications, and that it would have to go before the clubs first before any final decision was made. 
“This is something for the clubs to decide,” Beattie said.
The burden of cutting clubs may have been made easier however, after rumours from Konedobu that the Sharks had merged with the Motuan Warriors.
Lassalians, Royals and Valley Hunters were the other clubs that had struggled to be competitive and could find themselves merging with one of the 10 clubs.