The latest decision to change the Highlanders Super Rugby jerseys from the traditional blue, maroon and gold is a significant move from the amateur ITM Cup competition where blue and gold have traditionally been the colours of Otago and maroon, gold and blue the colours of Southland who are the two main unions in the franchise.  It is difficult to know if the change is because there are too many other blue teams in Super Rugby or if it is a sign of the Highlanders wanting to differentiate themselves from the Otago and Southland ITM Cup teams?



I think the latter is the real reason for the change.  Less than half of the Highlanders squad in 2011 actually play for Otago or Southland in the ITM Cup, with the coach, Jamie Joseph bringing in players from outside the area with him down south in an attempt to boost their chances.  It was always going to be this way with the Highlanders area only having about 200,000 people in it.  Super Rugby is the professional game and player loyalties give way to the team which offers players a professional contract.  People play for the money and not necessarily the loyalty as there are plenty of people who play for several Super Rugby teams in their careers. 



The interesting thing is that in the past a player would transfer to a specific ITM Cup team and then be offered a Super Rugby contract for the area too.  This gave the power to the Super Rugby franchises, but these days the power has gone back to the provinces in the ITM Cup who are helped by a salary cap and are able to sign players for the ITM Cup and they can then go to a different franchise base outside the provinces boundaries for Super Rugby.  The competitions have therefore been separated and this means that instead of the Highlanders colours having a history dating back to the early days of Otago and Southland rugby over 100 years ago, the colours only date back to the start of the Highlanders in 1996. 



It is a difficult concept to grasp, but ITM Cup is where the heart and passion is.  That is where players come together and play for the passion of the jersey, while Super Rugby is where some of the same guys just happen to wear the jersey representing the Highlanders, but don't necessarily have any allegiance to the area.  This is why I prefer the ITM Cup.  The next thing we know, Super Rugby teams will do what many other sports have done and actual franchises will get up and move.  Whatever happened to the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA or the LA Raiders in NFL?  They moved.  We could well see a team called the Highlanders in name based in the southern North Island.  They have already played home games there and this could be the next step!



I just find this changing to the light green jersey so strange.  Why couldn't the Highlanders play in maroon to represent the Southland?  I think this represents the movement away from amateurism and towards professionalism.  The ITM Cup and Super Rugby have just moved one step further away from each other.  Is this a bad thing?  Only time will tell.  Remember, professional sport is still young in New Zealand.

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