A Tauranga City rugby club is worried the move to replace premier clubs' colts level rugby with a compulsory development competition will strangle life out of the game's future.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union announced the new competition format this week, opting to move away from the traditional Under 21 contest after experiencing a gradual decline in player numbers during the last few seasons.

Mount Maunganui Sports club chairman David Wellington, with a set of the club's unused jerseys following the removal of the colt's competition. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Instead, the 10 Baywide Bayfair Premier Clubs will field development teams with no age restrictions in an attempt to solve the demise of the colts competition in the Bay and bolster an increase in younger players playing premier rugby.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers admits this is the best solution the union can currently do, as they continue talking with clubs on a model to best ensure age-group rugby remains in some form.

'We need to have age-group rugby in some form, but we have got to wait and see with this season as we don't know what's going to happen,” says Mike.

'Club rugby is becoming younger and younger. There are a number of guys going straight out of high school, straight into premier rugby.

'The crucial thing for us is finding a pathway for everyone.”

Mike says the union has worked really hard with clubs on the idea of an Under 19 competition but it's has been unable to get any traction.

Originally set for a six-team competition, the last few weeks has seen teams pull the pin, citing lack of money, or numbers, with Mount Maunganui Sports Club and Marist St Michaels Rugby and Sports Club in Rotorua the last two standing.

Mount Maunganui Sports club chairman David Wellington believes the rugby union is wrong in taking away the colts grade, saying it's vital to developing future players and longevity of the game.

'I think a general consensus amongst the clubs is we are extremely concerned about the viability of our club's long-term without a colts grade and a pathway to playing age-group rugby,” says David.

'There has always been a colts grade up until now, but it has been on the decline. The question is where from here? And where will we be in three or five years from now?”

He does concede the competition has been waning, with clubs unable to keep up with the move towards the youthful premier flavour.

'The reality is they [Bay of Plenty Rugby Union] don't want the colts competition anymore.”

'My main concern is the young boys, 18 or 19 years old, who aren't the top first pick players. And those groups in a tier down, who are perfectly good club players for five, eight, 10 years; if they aren't playing, then we will be strangled to death.”