Blac Fern
STRIKE NEW PAY DEAL
THE BLACK FERNS HAVE
FINALLY EARNED classification as a high performance team following an agreement about a landmark pay deal.
This year will see the 30 leading women’s XV-a-side players earn retainers as well as match fees, with a host of other benefits coming their way.
Under the terms of the new deal, the top seven players will receive a retainer of $20,000 a year, with a further seven gaining $17,500, another seven $15,000 and the remaining nine players $12,500 each.
On top of that, players selected to the Black Ferns squad will assemble for approximately 50 days per year for training camps and fixtures for which they will be paid $2,000 per week, adding another $14,00015,000 to their potential earnings.
A further $100,000 will be made available from a newly-created Black Ferns Legacy Fund and allocated across the 30-person squad.
Members of the 2017 World Cup winning Black Ferns squad will also receive a one-o gross payment of $10,000 to become Rugby World Cup legacy ambassadors, which will see them undertake an agreed amount of promotional activity to help promote and grow rugby.
Players will be expected to devote 10-14 hours per week to rugby, leaving them free to pursue study or career opportunities outside rugby.
NZRPA CEO Rob Nichol said: “This is a significant milestone for the women’s 15 game. It is a longterm sustainable model that o ers genuine pathways and support for female players on and o the field, and that we can build on in the future.
“It is a credit to those players who over several decades have built such a strong platform, based on an outstanding culture and phenomenal international success, that has enabled this professional performance programme to come to fruition. It is pleasing that the 2017 Rugby World Cup Black Ferns will be acknowledged for the impetus and inspiration they have given the game on the back of their success.”