RIVER Murray footballers will represent the South East zone at the South Australian Country Championships next month, despite not having the approval of the RMFL.

The South Australian National Football League assigned the River Murray to the South East zone this year, due to the strength of the Southern Districts side, which featured the Hills, River Murray, Great Southern and Southern Football Leagues.

The South East zone previously consisted of representatives from the Western Border, Mid South East and Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football Leagues.

However the entire Southern Districts side, including the RMFL, will now boycott the championships because they believe it does not make geographical sense to change the zoning.

The decision was made after a meeting between the presidents of the Hills, River Murray, Great Southern and Southern Football Leagues and SANFL delegates, which failed to work out a solution to the problem.

However players will still play in the championships, but without the backing of their leagues.

A Southern Districts side is now back on track to compete, minus River Murray footballers, who will represent the South East zone.

SANFL affiliated leagues manager Justin Dent said it was important players were given the opportunity to play at the highest level, despite the saga between SANFL and the leagues.

“Our position is and always has been that the championships are for the players,” he said.

“We are pleased that the opportunity is going to be available to the players.”

Mr Dent said the players had the choice of playing the championships, with their leagues neither encouraging or discouraging them from doing so.

“It comes back to the choice of the players,” he said.

“The players that put their hand up to play will represent their zone.

“That is the most important outcome.

“The Country Championships are a fantastic opportunity for them to play in.”

Mr Dent said he was disappointed that a solution could not be worked out with the leagues for this year’s championships.

“Our preference would have been to have come up with an amicable solution several months ago,” he said.

“We will get these championships out of the way and then review the situation after that.”

Mr Dent said he was looking forward to forgetting about the disagreement and concentrating on the championships.

“Everyone is looking at it really positively,” he said.

“We think we are in for the best championships ever.”