New Zealand has gained a major victory in world rugby by having an international transfer fee system established, starting from September 1.
The system, approved by the International Rugby Board in Buenos Aires, is aimed at recompensing clubs and unions for the cost of developing players who have been contracted inNew Zealand and then go on to further contracts with overseas clubs or unions.
The normal club player, not good enough to be contracted by his own union, is rated amateur and no fee will be charged unless he is going under contract overseas.
New Zealand initiated this idea some time ago but it has been a difficult assignment getting it accepted, especially by the Northern Hemisphere nations.
An important selling point is that there will be no bar to the player travelling and playing for his new club or union while the amount of the transfer fee is negotiated.
New Zealand IRB member and chairman of the game regulation working party, Tim Gresson, said he woul be asking the New Zealand Rugby Union's board meeting tomorrow to decide which body would do the negotiating on New Zealand players' behalf. He felt it should be the NZRFU.
"I would think the New Zealand union would want to be involved on behalf of the union or club, but that's got to be all sorted out.
"From our point of view I think the whole thing is very satisfactory because it means that unions and clubs who have spent money on training players are going to get compensation for players who go overseas and enter into contracts.
"Any player ending a contract here and entering into a contract overseas has to have the amount of compensation negotiated.
"If it cannot be negotiated it will be referred to an independent judicial person, appointed by the IRB, who will fix the amount. If an amateur is just moving from one club to another, there is no compensation.
"The criteria are: where an amateur moves to a contract situation overseas; if he's coming to the end of his contract and he enters into another contract; or while under contract he decides he wants to enter into another contract."
No mandatory figures had been set, he said.
"What is set out clearly are the criteria that need to be considered." - NZPA
