NZRU and NZRPA ratify new Collective Employment Agreement

NZRPA CEO Rob Nichol also welcomes the formal agreement

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have signed a new Collective Employment Agreement for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2010 to 2012.

Formal signing of the agreement follows the December announcement that they had reached agreement on the major issues raised during collective bargaining, and detailed contract drafting and ratification by the NZRU Board, Provincials Unions, Franchises and the NZRPA members and its Board.

As signalled last year, the new Collective Agreement includes:

• an on-going commitment by all parties to work in partnership to ensure the growth and success of New Zealand rugby
• the continuation of the revenue sharing model at a revised level,
• the introduction of a new player contracting and payment model that will see:
  • Super Rugby Franchises (working in conjunction with the NZRU) directly contracting Super Rugby players to their squads (regardless of which Province they choose to play for);
  • Super Rugby Squads expanded to between 30 and 32 players with an ability to include two overseas players subject to certain criteria and NZRU approval from 2011 onwards;
  • Provincial Unions subject to a revised Salary Cap model that includes a cap on what any individual player can be paid by a Province
• the incorporation of the new format for the Super Rugby and ITM Cup domestic competition from 2011; and
• confirmation of initiatives relating to Players at Provincial Union and academy levels being unable to assemble for rugby requirements between the hours of 9am and 5pm outside of the competition period and required as part of their contract to undertake some form of meaningful work and / or study.

The new agreement replaces the existing Collective Agreement and is effective from 1 January 2010.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen welcomed the new agreement as a significant milestone for professional rugby in New Zealand which, when taken together with the new broadcasting arrangements and the extension of the adidas contract through to 2019, will provide the professional game with a significant amount of certainty about the future.

“It has taken significant work to get here but there has been tremendous goodwill and effort by all those involved. Today marks the culmination of that work from players, the NZRPA, Provincial Unions, Franchises and the NZRU.

“The new agreement is one that achieves a positive result for the New Zealand rugby community at large. The NZRU and Players can be proud of it as the agreement positively reflects the strength of the relationship we have with our professional players. We are confident it will provide a basis for the sustainability of Professional Rugby at all levels of the game,” Mr Sorensen said.

NZRPA CEO Rob Nichol also welcomed the formal agreement noting that it dealt with a number of challenging issues.

“The Agreement provides a level of certainty around the competitions and the overall contracting model that will provide a better platform for the game to move forward.

“The Players are proud of the results the process and final agreement has produced for rugby in New Zealand but we know we still have on-going challenges and opportunities to address to ensure rugby’s long term growth and success. We will now look forward to some exciting competitions, performances and success stories on the field and working with New Zealand rugby to ensure the game’s health off it.” Mr Nichol said.