All Blacks 'offered $100,000 World Cup carrot'

The All Blacks will each receive a $100,000 bonus if they win the World Cup in France in 2007, it was reported today.

The windfall is included in a new collective agreement, due to be revealed this week, and includes several gains by the Players' Association in its negotiations with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).

The Dominion Post newspaper reported that the big gains were getting the players on to retainers and linking their income to the NZRU's financial performance.

Under the new collective the players are guaranteed 32.4 per cent of "player-generated revenue" -- money "directly attributable to players" -- with the new scheme running from this year until 2008.

The players' salaries will include a retainer component which is paid "regardless of selection, injury or illness or suspension (except where suspended for more than five weeks or where an injury was the result of an illegal act)".

The new collective agreement has been agreed in secret with the NZRU and Players' Association bound by a confidentiality agreement.

However, the newspaper said it had seen some of the new agreement's main points, including a $35,000 bonus if the All Blacks make the World Cup final in Paris in 2007 and another $65,000 if they win it.

The All Blacks' build up to the 2003 World Cup was tainted by a standoff between the players and the NZRU over bonuses for that tournament.

The new agreement also confirms Super 14 salaries start at $65,000 and that All Blacks will be paid a standard $7500 a week "selection fee".

Junior All Blacks will get a standard $3500 a week while New Zealand Maori and All Blacks triallists get $2000 per week.

All players picked for the world sevens series also get $2000.

It stipulates that provincial unions must contract at least 26 players on a minimum of $15,000 and pay their development players $1000 a week for the weeks they are selected.

- NZPA