The Tasman rugby union is to join Northland in contesting their axing from the provincial championship next season.
The deadline for an appeal against the NZRU's decision to cut the competition from 14 to 12 teams is tomorrow .
Tasman's chief executive Peter Barr says Nelson can go it alone without Marlborough.
Peter Barr says Nelson Bays has shown in the past that it can compete successfully -- winning the second division twice -- and he has no reason to believe tbey couldn't compete in the premier division.
