New Zealand Rugby wants to sell the All Blacks jersey to an overseas investor in a groundbreaking, yet likely contentious, deal that could earn the cash-strapped organisation more than $300 million.
As part of the Business of Rugby series, the Herald can today reveal that NZR is trying to sell its entire portfolio of jersey sponsorship rights — the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Sevens, Māori and under-20 team — to a single investor, possibly a major US or Japanese advertising agency.
The agency would then on-sell the rights to specific companies that want to put their name on the team's jerseys.
READ MORE:
• The Business of Rugby Part I: Where has all of NZ's money gone?
• The Business of Rugby Part II: Analysing Super Rugby's future
• The Business of Rugby Part III: Are the All Blacks about to sell their soul?
Over the past few years, sponsorship income has been one of NZ Rugby's biggest sources of revenue after broadcast rights, but the Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted the organisation with a decline in revenue of $120m expected for the current financial year.