All Blacks in line for €1.75m payday — if they win

THE All Blacks are just 80 minutes away from a €1.75m payday.

Squad members who have lasted the duration of the seven-week tournament will each receive $NZ100,000 (€58,000) from the NZRU should the Graham Henry-coached team win the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Those who have missed out with injury — including Daniel Carter and Mils Muliaina — or players called up as mid-tournament replacements would share the $100,000 on a pro-rata basis based on how many games they were available for.

“If they win it, it’s 100 grand each ... if they lose this weekend, I don’t think they get anything,” NZ Rugby Players Association chief Rob Nichol revealed.

“[But] to be perfectly honest, it is not going to change the way the guys approach things.

“It’s not going to change the way they play or their motivation.”

Nichol said the potential bonuses were no different than those offered to executives in the corporate sector.

He said the payments were not talked about, adding he believed some in the 30-strong squad didn’t even know of their existence in the 172-page collective contract leading players have signed up to.

“I am not joking ... you can quote me on that,” Nichol said.

“It was signed off some time ago, ironically when some of those guys were not even in the team. It is something that was locked away in negotiations some time ago.”

Nichol said the bonus was a way of recognising the world cup was a “special” event.

“If you are getting up on a really cold morning to do that extra training session with the Rugby World Cup in mind, it is nice to know there is some sort of prize there,” he said.

While the All Blacks won’t be in line for any bonuses if they lose the decider, their world cup experience will still be worth $60,000 (€35,000).

As part of the contract with the NZRU, All Blacks squad members receive a weekly fee of $7,500 (€4,350).

It is a flat flee implemented whenever the side is in camp — both for playing or promotional commitments.

The weekly fee was negotiated after the NZRU and Players Association dropped a previous regime which offered performance-based payments.

That system meant if a player was dropped it cost him thousands of dollars.

“It just added another dynamic that, to be frank, we don’t want in our environment,” Nichol said.

“In terms of how our teams work, the philosophy is that everyone is part of the team from the players, team management and support staff.

“We didn’t feel comfortable differentiating from the guy who is No28 for the week and the starting prop.”