NZR announces emergency funding package
New Zealand Rugby has slashed its own staff salaries and offered to bail out its Super Rugby franchises with a $1.25 million rescue package as the sport continues to grapple with the financial implications of Covid-19.
Chief executive Mark Robinson, who is refusing to give up on its premier club competition resuming at some stage in 2020, said the emergency funding would be available to each of the five franchises for the next three months.
‘‘An emergency NZR grant of $250,000 each is to be made available to all Super Rugby clubs for the next three months,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘We still think there’s a lot of value in Super Rugby. Based on the call we had the other day there’s a lot of excitement and optimism about what it can be in the future, it’s just an incredibly difficult time we’re working through at the moment.’’
Robinson confirmed all NZR staff, including its board and All Blacks management, are taking 40 per cent pay cuts across the board as coronavirus bites into its finances. The cuts are for a three-month period, after which they will be reviewed.
NZR is still locked in negotiations with players’ representatives over pay cuts for All Blacks and Super Rugby players but Robinson said those talks were ‘‘progressing quite well’’.
Robinson has previously estimated a revenue loss of more than $100m this year in a worstcase scenario, under which no top level rugby is played.
He said the $250,000 rescue package would go a long way to ensuring all five of its Super franchises remain viable at a ‘‘challenging time’’ for the sport.
‘‘In addition, just like NZR, Super Rugby clubs have also made necessary changes because of the Covid-19 crisis, including budget cuts and staffing changes. The emergency grant is necessary so that Super Rugby clubs can survive and be ready to grow their revenue once we are through the pandemic.’’
Robinson said provincial unions would receive their full financial payment in April but revealed the Mitre 10 Cup was not ‘‘set in stone’’, with NZR willing to be flexible with the 2020 calendar. A Super Rugby return is still on the table as is a summer finish to the NPC.
A working group of competition representatives, the players’ association and key stakeholders has been formed to map out a plan for the end of the year.
‘‘We might play into November or December domestically depending on what happens with the borders,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘What we’re focused on when we get these groups together is creating the best experience for fans, creating as much value as we can and creating great experiences for the players. We’re not set in stone with anything around that, and that’s primarily because we don’t know when we’re going to be playing again.
‘‘If someone could give us an exact date we could shed more light on that, but at the moment it’s extremely difficult.’’
‘‘We still think there’s a lot of value in Super Rugby.’’
Mark Robinson