The proposal for a joint competition in 2018 and 2019 still has to get the green light from New England, and as Central North president Tony Byrnes phrased it they are sweating on their meeting on Tuesday night.

Needing two-thirds majority support to get up the proposal was accepted 24-6.

“I’m extremely impressed and proud of the Central North clubs and affiliates with the very mature and robust discussion that occurred today,” Byrnes said.

There has been some reluctance in the past towards the concept, and Byrnes said on Friday he was unsure what way it was going to go.

“(But) The fact that it got up convincingly says we really want this,” he said.

There was considerable discussion before the vote was taken, and even a few fresh ideas brought to the table that hadn’t been presented before.

New England also had a representative at the meeting to address any concerns.  

Twenty years in the making, it is a monumental change should it go ahead.

“This is a huge shift for rugby in our area but I think it’s a very positive path we’re going down,” Byrnes said.

He concedes there will be some hiccups, but believes it is for the betterment of rugby in the region.

“What’s on offer is a much bigger critical mass of rugby clubs, which creates better opportunities to create a viable competition,” Byrnes told Fairfax Media after the Central North agm where the clubs voted to explore the idea.

Hopeful it will get across the line on Tuesday, he said there “is a bit of work to do”.

The next step will be to form a committee, which will develop the various rules and structure of the competition. The plan is to have that all bedded down by early January so clubs can start organising trial games.