Rugby Southland is understood to have shot up the New Zealand Rugby Union rankings last year, which may be a key in its quest to be part of a revamped national provincial competition.
The New Zealand Rugby Union announced this week it would cut back its top-level domestic competition to 10 to 12 weeks.
This was likely to result in the competition being reduced from 14 to 10 teams to allow a round-robin and final series to take place.
Each year the Air New Zealand Cup unions are ranked in several areas, which include player development, on-field success and financial situation.
In 2007 Southland was ranked 12th of the 14 teams and that would put it on a knife edge as the Air New Zealand Cup gets chopped back.
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Reranking helps Stags' chances
Reranking helps Stags' chances
