All Blacks ‘to take 10pc pay cut’

All Blacks players will accept 10 per cent pay cuts to help New Zealand Rugby survive the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report.

TVNZ rugby journalist Scotty Stevenson tweeted yesterday that All Blacks players will have their salaries reduced by 10 per cent and forego most bonuses.

Although All Blacks hooker Dane Coles told yesterday that ‘‘nothing had been set in stone’’, he conceded a pay cut was ‘‘totally understandable’’ in the current climate.

‘‘It’s totally understandable with what’s going on in the world,’’ Coles said.

‘‘We’ve just got to do our part to help NZ Rugby and all the franchises and keep things running because in the next 12-18 months it will be quite crucial.

‘‘If we can do a little bit now then it’ll hopefully help in the next 18 months to stay alive.’’

NZ Rugby has been locked in negotiations with the NZ Rugby Players’ Association regarding pay cuts for players after previously confirming 20 per cent cuts for all staff including All Blacks management.

‘‘At the national level we’re very close,’’ NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol said.

‘‘We have been able to give players a heads up on what might be coming, which means they have been able to engage with their advisers and our support people to move the levers they need to.

‘‘Now we are looking to refine the detail. Hopefully in the next wee while we can nail that down.’’

Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby has postponed club and community rugby indefinitely during the nation-wide lockdown.

After originally delaying the start of the winter season until April 18, NZ Rugby said that it was ‘‘unrealistic’’ to specify a new start date while the country remained at Alert Level 4.