But to a small country rugby club, being deprived of it can mean no new uniforms or equipment for junior players and a tough fundraising impost.
The West Taieri Junior Rugby Club, in Outram, is today expected to join the list of 180 creditors left out of pocket if the ORFU goes into liquidation.
West Taieri committee member David Bain said the club was owed $1800 by the union after agreeing to host an Otago, North Otago and Southland weight grade primary rugby tournament in August last year.
The arrangement was for the club to provide lunches for teams and officials over the three-day tournament. The ORFU said the club could spend $300 per match to feed about 60 players and officials, making a total $1800 for the six matches.
The club was to invoice the union and be reimbursed.
News this week of the possibility of liquidation confirmed fears the club, which has about 90 players, was unlikely to get its money.
Mr Bain said it was frustrating, as many of the club's committee members and parents had taken time off work and given up their weekend to help run the tournament.
"If the union had come to us before the tournament and said: 'We need to feed these players, but we can't afford to pay for it,' I'm sure we could have come to some arrangement," Mr Bain said.
"The parents and players within our club are big supporters of Otago and Highlanders rugby. It's a shame the ORFU didn't show us, or its other creditors, the same support."
The $1800 had been expected to go towards replacing jerseys and playing equipment for the upcoming season.
"As any rugby club knows, you have to work hard to raise funds and we rely heavily on the support and goodwill of parents and the community. We're expected to run the club within our financial means, but it's our players who will miss out because of those running the Otago union's finances."
