Rugby World Cup: Fat payout awaits victorious All Blacks

Reporter·Herald on Sunday·

24 Oct, 2015 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Four years ago the World Cup-winning All Blacks each received $100,000. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A gold medal and a $150,000 payday await All Black stars for a hoped-for historic back-to-back Rugby World Cup campaign.

But a defeat in this morning's crunch semifinal against the Springboks would send the initial 31-strong squad, plus injury replacement Joe Moody, back to New Zealand without a tournament cash bonus.

A deal struck between New Zealand Rugby and the national players' association two years ago guaranteed victorious All Blacks $150,000 each.

If they made it to next weekend's final, but fell at the last hurdle, players who have been with the team for the duration of the tournament will receive $35,000.

Veteran prop Tony Woodcock - forced out of the tournament with a hamstring tear in pool-play - and his replacement Moody would share any bonus on a pro-rata basis determined by team management.

Four years ago the World Cup-winning All Blacks each received $100,000.

"It's a good arrangement for the players, but it is just a bonus," New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol said.

"It would be the icing on the cake of winning the World Cup.

"It's not something any of them are thinking about when they're playing."

Given the young age of some of the squad - including 23-year-olds TJ Perenara and Malakai Fekitoa - financial advice would be available if required.

"Part of the deal with New Zealand Rugby means at any time players can get education from a number of banks and financial services," Nichol said.

"Careers in sport can be short, especially in contact sports like rugby, so it is important investment and career advice is made available."

The potential winning bonus is less than the financial spoils the Black Caps enjoyed this year, when squad members received $210,240 each for reaching the Cricket World Cup final.

The potential payday is also less than the amount victorious Wallabies would receive.

The Australian Rugby Union would pay each member of a winning Wallabies squad - who play Argentina in tomorrow morning's second semifinal at Twickenham - A$151,935 ($162,065).

Springboks players would each get an estimated SAR$682,813 ($75,000) if they take home the coveted trophy.

The Union Argentina de Rugby did not respond to a request from the Herald on Sunday on potential tournament bonuses for the Pumas.

The big losers, money-wise, from the World Cup turned out to be hosts England.

Members of the team - who bombed out in pool-play - would have received 100,000 ($228,000) had they won the Cup.

But spare a thought for the Japanese rugby team this morning.

They became the darlings of the tournament after shock wins over the Springboks and Manu Samoa but the players are understood to have been paid just $30 a day.