All Blacks could get $150k bonus

The All Blacks should lie back and think of the Webb Ellis Cup if they win the World Cup final, rather than compare the size of their bonus to the one that dropped into the Black Caps’ piggy banks recently.

While the All Blacks are entitled to a payout of $150,000 each if they succeed in defending the Webb Ellis Cup in the final in Yokohama, Japan, on November 2, that figure will still be shaded by the $187,500 awarded to each squad member of the Black Caps following their loss to England in the Cricket World Cup final in London in July.

The Black Caps received their loot thanks to the International Cricket Council setting aside a total prize pool of US$10 million (NZ$15.6 million) for the tournament staged in England and Wales.

Under the current players’ collective agreement with NZ Rugby each All Black in the 31-man squad is entitled to $35,000 if the team reaches the final, with an additional $115,000 heading their way if they win the tournament.

This is considered the fairest way to divvy up the funds, regardless of how much a player contributes to the campaign.

For young players such as Sevu Reece and George Bridge, who will attend their first global tournament, it would make the experience all the sweeter.

The bonus structure hasn’t changed from 2015, when the All Blacks beat the Wallabies in the World Cup final in London.

Blindside flanker Jerome Kaino and lock Sam Whitelock were the only players to start every game for the All Blacks in that tournament. Loose forward Liam Messam made just one appearance as a substitute in the pool game against Tonga, but was entitled to receive the same amount as his team-mates.

Replacement players, and any players they replace in Japan, will be entitled to a pro-rata payment which will be determined by the ‘‘All Blacks Team’’, according to the collective agreement.

The dividend doesn’t form part of the ‘‘player payment pool’’ and it’s agreed that the bonus payable to NZ Rugby by adidas if the All Blacks win the tournament won’t be treated as ‘‘player generated revenue’’.

In 2011 the All Blacks each received $100,000 for beating France 8-7 in the final in Auckland.