New Zealand is exploring major changes to its rugby structure, with reports indicating that the Super Rugby and National Provincial Championship (NPC) could be replaced by a single national competition. According to a document shared with participants at the Wellington summit, three options are being considered. The most radical proposal would eliminate Super Rugby Pacific and the NPC, replacing them with a national competition featuring eight to ten teams. The other two options involve either expanding Super Rugby with two additional teams or maintaining both competitions but consolidating them into five distinct entities based around major regions like Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago. Under the most compact national league scenario, teams would be managed by provincial unions, with an estimated 8 to 10 million New Zealand dollars allocated to each team annually. NZ Rugby would issue licenses and potentially allow private investment. Any changes would likely take effect around 2028. The three options will be reviewed on Thursday before a final proposal is presented to the NZR board. This proposal comes at a pivotal moment for New Zealand rugby, as the NPC is celebrating its 50th anniversary and has recently regained popularity. In August, NZ Rugby reported that more than 70,000 spectators attended the first two rounds of the NPC, a 79% increase compared to the previous year. The matches also drew 1.16 million television viewers on Sky and TVNZ 1, plus more than one million streams. The provincial championship, whose future is now under discussion, is once again drawing crowds. However, behind the renewed interest lies a more practical concern: how many professional rugby levels can New Zealand afford to sustain financially? NZR projects that, if the current model remains unchanged, the organization could face cumulative losses of 66 million New Zealand dollars between 2027 and 2031. The debate goes beyond nostalgia for local teams or legendary players like Jonah Lomu. It also involves the future of Super Rugby Pacific, which is based on a partnership with Rugby Australia. A New Zealand withdrawal from the competition would require renegotiation, especially as NZR confirmed in June that the Moana Pasifika team would no longer participate in 2027, reducing the competition to ten teams. Whether to add two provinces or completely reshape the structure is a key decision about the future of club rugby in the Pacific. For players, provinces, and supporters, the decision would significantly affect the identity of local rugby. The NPC currently has 14 franchises and is the second professional level in New Zealand behind Super Rugby. Switching to eight or ten teams would require choosing which regions remain in the elite. Names like Taranaki, Tasman, Hawke's Bay, or Bay of Plenty represent more than just entries in a spreadsheet—they are integral to the fabric of regional rugby. The Wellington summit will not finalize the fate of Super Rugby and the NPC on Thursday. However, the fact that NZR is even considering this option shows how seriously the current model is being questioned. In New Zealand, changing the structure of provincial rugby is like moving the goalposts while the game is in progress.