Provincial concern at player deal

The Super 12 franchises are stockpiling players, mid-range unions are sweating about defections while the NPC 14 newcomers are hoping to scrape up some decent signings.

That overall picture is emerging as the New Zealand Rugby Union sits down today in Wellington to brief the provinces about details of the new Players Collective Agreement.

The Herald understands the deal includes a $2 million salary cap, guaranteed retainers and the abolition of transfer fees for next year's expanded 14-team NPC.

While there will be glowing media releases about the agreement between the NZRU and the Professional Rugby Players Association, there is widespread provincial concern about its impact.

Originally the union wanted a salary cap, reducing each year, to create a more even spread of player talent. However, the players association argued there should be no salary cap limit. After some extensive debate a compromise deal was reached last month with details due to be revealed publicly this week.

Major unions argued that a reducing salary cap would have a negative impact. They claimed players forced to move would take up more lucrative overseas contracts rather than move to less successful provinces.

In assessing a province's salary bill, the NZRU has allowed a range of discounts for All Blacks, senior players and those in the Super 12. Unions with a number of All Blacks demanded the allowances. They pointed out they would be without those players for much of next year's NPC, because of the expanded international programme, and would have to sign replacements.

It appears the major franchises have worked hard recently to sign up their players so they have no NPC problems during the next few seasons. Privately, they wonder whether the revamped NPC 14 will last into its third season.

Mid-range provinces have questioned why they should continue to develop academy and youth programmes when others can pilfer that talent because of the removal of transfer fees. Those fees ranged between $5000 and $125,000 with restrictions on the number of players moving to one union each season.

Among a raft of uncertainty, major provinces are worried about getting a dud draw next season.

They ask whether the NZRU would subsidise a union faced with home matches against Manawatu, Nelson Bays-Marlborough, Northland and Hawkes Bay when the new competition was split into two pools of seven sides.

Initially the NZRU was going to have a 12-team premier division but eventually included all 14 candidates in what appeared to be a concession to political and legal pressure.

* Former NZ Colts coach Bryce Woodward has taken over as Northland coach after the resignation yesterday of Bruce Hodder.

Woodward will work with Donny Stevenson and Mark Seymour.

Meanwhile Waikato will welcome back All Black flanker Marty Holah for their NPC match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.

Coach Warren Gatland hopes Byron Kelleher, Sione Lauaki and Jono Gibbes will be available the following week but said he had not seen or heard from injured lock Keith Robinson.

* Former All Blacks halfback Danny Lee has signed a three-year contract with Hawkes Bay. A former Chiefs and Counties-Manukau player, Otago and Highlanders halfback Lee, 29, represented the All Blacks twice in 2002. He also considered playing in Britain.