AUCKLAND (AP) ― Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains supports the New Zealand Rugby Union’s criticism of commercial restrictions at the World Cup which have sparked threats of withdrawing from the 2015 event.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says competing in the World Cup will cost his union $10.4 million, numbers that are making them consider not playing in the 2015 World Cup unless the International Rugby Board changes its commercial rules.
British newspaper the Guardian said the IRB will announce a review of its World Cup financial model next May.
Mains has told New Zealand’s Radio Sport the IRB rules make little sense.
“Why should your major stars be in a debt situation to make money for somebody else? It doesn’t really make any sense,” Mains said.
“That’s a simplistic way of looking at it, but there’s a whole financial model around rugby, particularly in this country, that is struggling.
“But on the world stage, the All Blacks are the No. 1 attraction and Steve Tew has got a very relevant point.”
Tew said IRB restrictions around the tournament were too prohibitive, as incoming tours were postponed beforehand and the union’s sponsors barred during the event.
He said the NZRU was at a “really important juncture” because the financial losses couldn’t be sustained.
