With the spotlight now firmly fixed on the future of New Zealand Rugby's National Provincial Championship (NPC), one of the game's stalwarts has put the onus on the national body to do what it takes to save the competition.
On Thursday, an independent review into NZ Rugby deemed the organisation "unfit for purpose".
In particular, a major finding of the review pinpointed the NPC, with too many professional players leading to the competition being financially unsustainable long term.
Preventing any kind of solution is NZ Rugby's unwillingness to alter the NPC in order to avoid falling out with the 26 provincial unions, 14 of which make up the competition.
But with the NPC continuing to be a loss leader for NZ Rugby - even in the wake of a multi-million dollar partnership with American investment firm Silver Lake last year - something has to give.
From the players' point of view, losing the NPC altogether would be catastrophic.
In the modern era, the competition is a stepping stone for players to make their way up the rugby pyramid, leading to Super Rugby, and then the All Blacks for those good enough.
One such player is Canterbury's Luke Romano. Now 37, Romano made his professional debut for Canterbury in 2009, earning his way into the Crusaders and earning test selection for the All Blacks in 2012.
And while not all players make their way to the international arena the way Romano did, losing the NPC altogether would be a devastating move for many players in Aotearoa.
"The NPC is the heart of New Zealand rugby, really," said Romano. "It's such a good pathway to higher teams.
"Hopefully it stays. I'd be disappointed [if it went].
"When I was a young fella, when you were growing up, that was what you aspired to be. It wasn't to be a Crusader, it was to play for Canterbury.
"I'd be very disappointed if the NPC was terminated. It's such an awesome competition. It offers so many opportunities."
As for what can be done to save the NPC though, the review has recommended a complete separation between the NZR board and provincial unions.
On the surface level, this season's competition has been marred by a lack of fans turning out to attend live matches.
Wellington's Ranfurly Shield defence against Tasman last week was played in front of a near-empty Sky Stadium in Wellington, with similar scenes for Auckland's surprise loss to Manawatū on Wednesday.
With television rights being a huge driver of professional sport in the modern age, rugby is no different.
But that accessibility has undoubtedly correlated to the lack of bums on seats in the NPC.
For Romano, the powers that be can no longer sit back and watch as interest continues to dwindle.
"They've got to get their thinking helmets on, and think of a way to reduce the costs - with whatever costs they are - and make it attractive to the fans again to come to the games," Romano continued.
"I know the broadcast deals are so big for the revenue for NZR. It's so easy to sit at home and watch a game of rugby, isn't it?
"You don't need to turn up to the ground to watch your team. You can have a beer, eat a bag of chippies and watch them on TV.
"They're going to have to sit down and see if they can make it sustainable.
"I'm sure I'm not the only person with thoughts of it being disappointing if it went."
