There's been a little movement as the Tasman Rugby Union tries to convince Marlborough not to pull out of the merger with Nelson Bays.
The Marlborough sub union board met last night and chairman Peter Heagney says they've decided to wait for Tasman to produce a " financial model" to back its contention the merger is still viable.
He says after that it'll be up to the members of the sub-union's clubs to decide what happens.
Heagney says rugby can't afford a 14-team provincial championship.
Marlborough's also unhappy Tasman faces having to repay a $340,000 loan from the NZRU if it opts to remain in the top tier.
The NZRU's chief executive Steve Tew says 80 percent of Tasman's members need to agree to disband and if they do there'll be a 13-team competition.
