The All Blacks coaches and players have accepted pay cuts due to the strains on New Zealand Rugby as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With Vodacom Super Rugby suspended indefinitely, and previously proposed attempts at a domestic restructuring unlikely to take place, New Zealand Rugby is coming under immense pressure.
With the loss in revenue due to broadcasts not taking place, and no gate-takings at stadiums, it is going to be an extremely challenging time financially for rugby unions. It’s also widely expected that the annual mid-year Tests will not be able to go ahead as originally planned.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster didn’t play down the magnitude of the pay cuts among coaching staff.
‘Our coaching group has definitely taken a big cut,’ Foster told Newstalk ZB. ‘It’s already been agreed to.’
He emphasised that other measures are in place to combat the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, however, pay cuts across the whole organisation are inevitable.
‘With rugby, when there’s no games there’s no revenue and that’s a tough thing. There’s been a lot of shaving of the programs and what it’s also come down to is cutting salaries. That’s happened for some and happening for others.’
‘It’s a dire state when you can’t play a game. We’re obviously in a high-cost, high-revenue industry and when the revenue dies you’re left with high costs. So it’s a no-brainer. There’s going to be some pain.’
All Blacks star: Pay cuts inevitable
Foster also confirmed that players will be subject to pay cuts and said after speaking to several members of the All Blacks squad, the consensus among players is that of understanding and acceptance of the impending salary reductions.
‘It’s a different sort of process for players but I know that they’re willing to go into that space too,’ Foster said.
‘As we go through the next few days that will be finalized. It’s a given, they understand that. It’s just a matter of working it through so all the different levels of players are dealt with fairly.
‘I haven’t had one player yet who doesn’t know it’s going to happen or doesn’t accept that it’s going to happen.’
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
