All Blacks asked to take a cut

The 2007 World Cup squad, likely to include Byron Kelleher, will not play in next year's Air NZ Cup. Ross Land / Getty Images

A number of All Blacks have come under pressure to take pay cuts next year if they go to the World Cup.

The Herald on Sunday understands that some provincial bosses have asked players in the All Black frame to accept pay deals significantly less than the terms of their existing contracts.

Rob Brady, whose company sixfoot2 manages a number of New Zealand's leading players, says: "We are aware of a couple of instances where players have been asked to accept reduced terms. We have said to the unions that we understand their situation and we sympathise with them but that they should take the issue up with the New Zealand Rugby Union."

The move to cut costs is being driven because the World Cup will run across next year's Air New Zealand Cup, preventing any All Black from playing for their union.

Provincial executives have known for years that the 30 All Blacks chosen for the World Cup would be unavailable in 2007 and agreed pay deals with test stars that factored in their non-involvement next year.

But now there is a salary cap in place, some unions are trying to free up cash to pay others who will play a full part in next year's competition.

New Zealand's top players earn from $120,000 to $280,000 for playing in the Super 14. They also earn $7500 for every week they are assembled with the All Blacks. The NZRU meets Super 14 and test payments but the unions also separately contract players and most All Blacks earn between $80,000 and $130,000 a season from their provincial deal.

Unions are now restricted to spending $2 million on wages and Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato are all very close to the cap. Next year, they will have to contract extra players to cover the loss of World Cup All Blacks but will still be burdened with payments to test stars.

While All Blacks come with a moderate discount on the balance sheet, they still make a reasonable dent, hence the reason some are being asked to give up thousands of dollars.

The problem for the unions is that they have to contract and pay test players who will barely appear in provincial colours but who will make a significant contribution in Super 14. Waikato chief executive Gary Dawson says: "We have been aware that we may not have certain players available to us until the latter rounds of the Air New Zealand Cup in a normal year and that in a World Cup year they will probably not be available at all."

"The reality is, though, that we need to protect these players for the Chiefs franchise. In an ideal world we would have liked a little bit of relief but we do get a salary cap credit for All Blacks and there is an opportunity for younger players to get a chance."

Those younger players, however, might not be getting remuneration packages that reflect their true value.

Brady says: "The player collective has been great for the top 40 or 50 players in the country. But the guys who are missing out are those at the next level who have played three or four years of Super 14 and five or six years of NPC."

The worry for the unions and NZRU is that promising players who make a valuable contribution in the Air New Zealand Cup and Super 14 will head overseas for better pay.

It is not known whether the recently signed player collective agreement ever discussed the prospect of the NZRU paying a percentage of every All Black's provincial salary.

Whether it was or wasn't, it is definitely an idea most provincial bosses now want to see discussed in some detail.