Canterbury denies player salary blow-out

1.00pm

Canterbury rugby players are not being paid "exorbitant" salaries, the Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) says.

New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew raised speculation over NPC wages when he described as "horrifying" some payments by big first division unions.

NPC running costs were exceeding $3 million annually in some cases, Tew said.

Waikato revealed this week their wage bill had blown out to $1 million, but to suggest any union was shelling out three times that figure was ridiculous, CRU chief executive Hamish Riach said yesterday.

Canterbury have 28 Super 12 players on their roster.

"I have never heard that figure... it's been plucked out of the air. I know it's not remotely close to the truth -- Auckland pay the most and they are not anywhere near that level either."

Riach said Tew's comments had been misconstrued.

"We are a $10 million turnover organisation and we spend an awful lot on development and clubs and schools."

Big unions were being unfairly painted as villains for not embracing the salary cap.

"At the end of the day we tried to express our concerns about the cap. There are no good guys and bad guys here."

Canterbury made no secret of the fact they were uncomfortable about aspects of a salary cap, including the probable loss of players.

"There is certainly potential for some players to be lost to the province. We want to work on, and help and contribute to the details of the cap. That will dictate the impact it will have on us."

Canterbury were concerned that players told they can not stay and play in the region would look offshore.

- NZPA