Great news for Northland and Tasman fans - they're no longer facing life without a team in the Air New Zealand Cup.

On Friday afternoon the NZRU backed down from it's previous decision to axe both teams from the competition, which would have left only twelve teams in the top provincial competition in New Zealand.

The NZRU has said that their decision to keep the two teams is based on the need for player depth being fed into the five New Zealand Super 14 franchises, and therefore dropping two teams could have serious consequences for those five teams - namely the Blues and Crusaders, who would suffer the most.

It's great that the NZRU has allowed them to stay - the current format is working nicely, and both teams deserve their place in the Air New Zealand Cup.

With only one round left in the competition both sides still stand a chance (albeit a slim one) of making the quarter finals - although Northland will have to beat Auckland, who will be playing their All Blacks. Tasman, on the other hand, only have to play Manawatu, who currently sit at the bottom of the ladder.

It would be great if at least one of the two could make the quarter finals - it would definitely show the NZRU has made the right decision in keeping them.