By CHRIS DANIELS consumer reporter
Rugby fans who took part in a Super 12 "fantasy team" competition will have a wait for their winnings - the company is in liquidation.
Ultimate Rugby's Hong Kong owners took the action this week, still owing nearly $200,000 to winners. It also owes big money to the New Zealand Rugby Union, which let the company use official Super 12 logos in its promotions.
One player is owed $35,000 and another $15,000 by the collapsed company, which is owned by E-New Media.
Former director and creator of Ultimate Rugby, Simon Spence, said last week he feared that E-New Media, which had already lost money, would liquidate the company and leave fans out of pocket.
Rugby fan Rua Harris said he spent $370 on the competition and was owed another $300 in prizes. He just wanted to be reimbursed.
Players traded and rearranged teams during the heavily advertised and promoted competition.
Liquidator and KPMG partner Kerryn Downey said winners would not be first in line for any money coming from Ultimate Rugby.
"Regrettably, they will end up as unsecured creditors. They will have to file claims with me as liquidator."
There had been "significant interest" in the intellectual property owned by Ultimate Rugby, he said, although ownership had yet to be sorted out.
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