Rugby: Majority of Herald readers don't think the All Blacks need government funding

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's plea for government funding to retain players hasn't been well received by New Zealand Herald readers.

In a poll posted by the Herald yesterday, readers were asked whether or not they thought the government should give New Zealand Rugby money to keep top players in the country.

With more than 100,000 views, the poll revealed that almost 70 per cent of readers disagreed with the statement and thought that the All Blacks had enough money.

Meanwhile, just over 30 per cent supported the idea and agreed that the All Blacks were worthy of government backing due to being one of the country's biggest brands.

Hansen first raised the issue when Prime Minister Ardern visited the players' dressing room during the Bledisloe Cup match at the weekend when he made a small demand of finance minister Grant Robertson.

"I said to Grant Robertson they should be our biggest sponsors because we're their biggest brand, and could she find some money to help us compete against the likes of England and France to help us keep our players. So there wasn't a lot said after that," Hansen said.

Although Ardern said they had not received any formal requests from Rugby New Zealand, she believed the government's support was better placed at a grassroots level.

"The question is will we ever be able to keep pace with what may happen beyond what we're able to pay here. I think it's a slight disservice to players to assume that that's the only thing that goes on in their thinking," Ardern told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning.

"Someone who seeks an international career, sometimes that's actually because they're looking for a chance to have that experience abroad. Equally, the honour of playing in the All Blacks, that's significant too."