KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Rugby Union wants permission to revamp the provincial salary cap next season to reflect the non-appearance of All Blacks because of the World Cup.
The union has also asked the Commerce Commission if it can wipe the notional value of the 22 extra players drafted into Super 14 to cover for reconditioning test stars.
Under the terms of the Air New Zealand Cup (ANZC) salary cap, players who are contracted to play Super 14 carry a notional value on the provincial wage bill even though that component of their contract is paid by the NZRU. The cash paid to players in provincial contracts is considered in its entirety for salary cap purposes. Unions can spend up to $2 million.
The 30 All Blacks who make the World Cup squad will not play in next year's ANZC competition. These players will be paid by their provinces under the terms of their contracts which, in some cases, is thought to be as much as $120,000 per season.
But the NZRU says it is unfair to include these 'pay not play' payments in the salary cap when the individuals are not available. However, a percentage of the monies these players receive from the NZRU to play Super 14 and for the All Blacks will still be included on the balance sheet.
Conversely, the NZRU wants the 22 extra players who have been drafted into Super 14 as direct replacements for the All Blacks required for three-month reconditioning programmes to have a notional value of zero.
When the Super 14 squads were announced in October the five franchise coaches had to reveal which players had been drafted as direct replacements for missing All Blacks.
These players will all receive a minimum payment of $65,000 for playing Super 14. They will also receive a minimum of $15,000 from their provinces and this will count towards the salary cap.
NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said it was likely all unions would be in full support of the proposed amendments.
