The Highlanders First XV competition may still be alive - although how it is going to be revived is about as clear as mud.
The executive committee of the competition met yesterday in what was described as robust and positive discussion about the future of the competition.
The competition's outlook was looking bleak due to a lack of sponsor, the impact the competition was having on other grades and mismatches in many games.
It was thought the competition, which started in 2009, would fold and Southland and Otago would go back to their own separate competitions.
After yesterday's meeting, the committee produced a statement on maintaining the competition but with no clear message on how that was going to be done.
Over the next seven days, the Otago and Southland unions would meet to discuss the goals for teenage rugby in their unions, the statement said.
All the school involved indicated they want a region-wide first XV competition, the statement said.
After the discussions the executive would meet and come up with a competition acceptable to all parties.
The committee would then inform schools and the public about the new competition.
How the committee will come to agreement in seven days when it has not found a way to solve perceived problems with the competition over the past six months remains a question.
Executive committee chairman Don McFarlane could not be reached for comment last night.
