The man behind the Grassroots television show believes there is life in club rugby still and it will always be the base for the game in New Zealand.
There are concerns about the club game and whether it remains as the feeder system to teams and levels above, as player numbers wilt and teams withdraw from competitions.
Two clubs have withdrawn from the Central Otago club competition this year and Lawrence, in the southern region competition, has failed to field a team this season. There were defaults in the Southland senior competition as it expanded to 12 teams early on in the season but it has improved as the competition has gone on.
Grassroots Television executive producer Graham Veitch said club rugby in NZ was about communities and how they came together.
''I still think it is very relevant and it is a chance for a lot of communities to come together,'' he said.
''Sure, over the years a few clubs have come and gone while new ones have emerged. You look at Hinds and Mayfield in Mid Canterbury, who combined years ago and have prospered as Southern. But most carry on and survive in spite of all that is happening around them and what they go through.''
Veitch said the clubs were built around people coming to watch games every Saturday and then coming together after the game. That was still strong in provincial and rural NZ and even in places like Wellington there were good crowds at games.
''Then you look at the playing of the game. I look at Sonny Bill Williams and the legacy he has created. Everyone is trying to do offloads now. They are all having fun.
''The coaches are looking to play a game which involves all the players. They see what is being played in Super Rugby and the All Blacks and they play that style of game.
''There is always going to be a place for club rugby. There are hundreds and hundreds of stories to tell and people love telling them- there is always interesting material to read. Every club has an All Black that has played for them and that is a source of pride.
''Club rugby is where it all starts ... what is happening now are clubs are becoming more community-focused, more community-orientated. Clubs are what we know, where we go for many people. Whether that continues on in the next generation, I don't know.''
Veitch said the Grassroots rugby show was now the fourth-longest-running show on television, behind Fair Go, Country Calendar and Shortland St. It started last week on Sky Television and was now into its 21st season.
Veitch said with the way technology was changing so quickly, it was likely to become easier to get coverage of games.