All Blacks captain Kieran Read is "set to break" the NZ$1M ($712,000) salary mark after "New Zealand Rugby revealed a major pay rise for its players," according to Liam Napier of STUFF. NZR and the Players' Association announced details of the new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday. The "big news was an increase" of NZ$70M ($49.9M) in the player payment pool from NZ$121M ($86.2M) to NZ$191M ($136.1M) over the next three years. With his contract expiring in '17, Read is "poised to sign a new deal" through the 2019 World Cup. When all on-field contributions are taken into account "it is understood he will crack" the NZ$1M salary barrier for the first time. The "significant boost comes on the back of increased broadcast and sponsorship revenue," and projected earnings from next year's "lucrative British and Irish Lions excursion, which could see the national body clear as much as" NZ$40M ($28.5M) from the 10-match tour. NZR Contracts Manager Chris Lendrum said, "We're really pleased to be in a position where the game has grown its revenue overall" (STUFF, 12/14). REUTERS' Ian Ransom reported the British & Irish Lions tour will contribute to "player payments, education and welfare initiatives" from '16-18. The new CBA "boosts player payments in Super Rugby, the domestic provincial competition and for the national men's and women's sevens teams." New Zealand's "already dominant Super Rugby teams will have more financial firepower" to compete in the southern hemisphere competition, with annual contracting budgets raised to NZ$4.65M ($3.31M) from NZ$4M ($2.85M) and minimum retainers for individual players "hiked" to NZ$75,000 ($53,400) from NZ$70,000 ($49,900). NZR also boosted its fund of "top up retainer payments," used as "sweeteners" to discourage top players from heading overseas to pursue more lucrative contracts, from NZ$15.9M ($11.3M) to $24.8M ($17.7M) (REUTERS, 12/14). The NEW ZEALAND HERALD reported New Zealand's previously "undervalued mid-tier group of players" who sit below the All Blacks have "felt the love" in the collective employment deal that has been signed and have been rewarded with "major" pay rises plus bonus and incentive scheme payments. While all contracted players will benefit from the increased payment pool, players who have been in New Zealand for four to six years will benefit the most. NZR has been "outstanding" at retaining senior All Blacks and "emerging young talent," but has "struggled" to keep those players such as Jared Payne, Nasi Manu and Andrew Horrell, who "come close to national selection and then shift offshore to give their senior years to foreign clubs" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/14).
