Cap gives Auckland Blues

Auckland Rugby will probably have to offload players now that a salary cap will definitely be in place during the Air New Zealand Cup.

The Commerce Commission approved on Friday the introduction of a $2m cap and, having gone through the fine detail, Auckland are exploring ways in which they can best operate under the ceiling - including sending some players to Blues' partners North Harbour and Northland.

Chief executive Andy Dalton said he believes the union will struggle to stay within the rules if they hold on to all the players currently on contract.

Last week he met with bosses of both North Harbour and Northland to discuss ways in which players within the Blues franchise could be utilised between the three unions.

Blues coach David Nucifora is keen for players who can't get game time at one province to be farmed out to one of the other Blues' partners.

With Auckland having re-signed a raft of players last year, including Doug Howlett, Ali Williams, Daniel Braid, John Afoa and Ben Atiga as well as buying Troy Flavell and Andy Blowers, the wage bill has soared.

And because they will probably have to utilise more players to cover the likes of Williams, Howlett, Flavell, Keven Mealamu, Jerome Kaino and Joe Rokocoko, who will be on All Black duty for much of the Air New Zealand Cup, Dalton fears they might be tipped over the cap.

"The likelihood is we will be pushing the cap and we will be exploring options to deal with that," he said.

"We had a constructive meeting with our franchise partners and will meet again in a few weeks to further explore options. Obviously anything will have to be agreed between the various unions and players involved.

"At this stage you almost have to guess who is going to be in the team and it is far too early to do that."

Justin Collins has already expressed a desire to play at Northland on loan but may not be granted a release as loose-forward cover will be needed for Kaino and Flavell and Angus MacDonald has a serious injury.