New Zealand Rugby's fight for survival
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson says everyone must share the pain of the coronavirus crisis as he confronts potential revenue losses in excess of $100 million and issues sweeping 40 per cent wage cuts across the organisation for the next three months.
No one in the sporting sphere will be spared the fallout as the global pandemic freezes revenue streams required to keep pay cycles spinning.
In the rugby bubble alone Australia yesterday stood down 75 per cent of its staff; Ireland have deferred payments up to 50 per cent, Wales cut wages by a quarter, while England’s RFU, the world’s richest union, projects a $100 million revenue loss over the next 18 months.
At the helm of New Zealand Rugby, Robinson is charged with tackling this unprecedented shutdown.
In a frank interview with the Herald he details the scope of rugby’s survival battle.
“The overall impact on revenue is significant. The absolute worst case scenario, if we weren’t able to get on the field this year, there is potential risk of north of $100 million in revenue at stake,” Robinson said.
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has refused to rule out cutting another Super Rugby team:
“When we’ve looked at scenarios around that we’ve realised we have to act very quickly in terms of getting costs under control. Preserving cash is absolutely critical.”
Robinson confirmed wage cuts included All Blacks management, Super Rugby coaches and his salary. He added all staff have waved bonuses.
“We’ve gone to a 20 per cent cut in staff salaries across the spectrum – from the board through to all staff in all areas. It’s been very consistent.
“We’ve been very fortunate with the government support subsidy that we’ve been able to still pay people at four days per week. We’re very grateful for that initiative.
“We’ve done everything we can to support our people. New Zealand rugby has a unique culture. There’s a huge amount of people working in areas they’re really passionate about so it’s a challenging process to work through.”
New Zealand Rugby has guaranteed provincial union payments for April but there are no promises beyond that.
Other budgets and activities are frozen. These measures, which aim to save $20 million, include cancelling this year’s Heartland Championship, national sevens tournaments and all representative rugby below the elite provincial level, the Mitre 10 and Farah Palmer Cup.
“When you look at that potential loss of revenue and model that cost-saving activity, we’re still looking at significant scenarios of deficits but we’ve done everything we can at this stage to preserve cash and get through this as best we can.”
Players throughout the rugby world have taken pay cuts. New Zealand athletes will be no different. By next week, all parties are expected to agree a figure, which has been around 25 per cent in other places such as England.
“We’re working with the players quite closely and we’d like to think some time in the near future we can get something finalised in terms of their role. They’ve been really understanding.
Rugby Australia will stand down 75 percent of their staff in what they have called "the toughest decision in the game's history".https://t.co/zgPep31oAB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 31, 2020
“We’ve had leads from Dane [Coles] and Beaudy who have been very supportive publicly in terms of their acknowledgement of how critical it is for New Zealand rugby to survive. They fully understand the gravity of the situation.”
Given the uncertainty surrounding any sporting resumption, New Zealand Rugby’s initial three-month pay cuts will be regularly reviewed and Robinson indicated some staff may lose their jobs.
“The scale of the challenge is great so if we’re not recognising things quickly that could impact on the business very seriously.
“We are looking at the structure of the organisation now essentially but we’ll take a bit of time to get that right and understand what the future might look like. There’s certainly the possibility of redundancies in time, but we’ll just have to work through that.”
The longer lockdowns persist, the further New Zealand Rugby will be forced to use cash reserves which are thought to sit between $70 to $90 million.
“We will have to dip into them. We’re still working through exactly what that means and looks like.
“We’ve acknowledged to the board and stakeholders that reserves are there for times of crisis and we’ll be utilising them but we also want to make sure when we get through this we’re in a position that’s positive enough to rebound quickly. That’s part of the balancing act in all this.”
From a global perspective, World Rugby is being asked to prevent unions folding. It also has a crucial role to play in eventually reshaping the test calendar, with the July window unlikely to go ahead.
World Rugby forecast revenue from last year’s World Cup in Japan to exceed $700 million. Profit is expected to register approximately half that figure. Those funds will be needed now more than ever.
USA Rugby is the first union to collapse, filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy due to “insurmountable financial constraints” – though many of their financial issues not related to the coronavirus outbreak.
It may have become widespread in Europe, but for the Southern Hemisphere-bred folks like Matt Giteau, this little convention is still a bit of a mystery… @giteau_rugby #rugbyhttps://t.co/iTJAmKhL0L
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) March 31, 2020
While Robinson’s focus is squarely on New Zealand’s survival he joined a conference call with national union bosses early this week where mutual challenges were outlined to World Rugby.
The scale of potential World Rugby bailout packages hinges on how much, if any, international rugby can be played in the remainder of the year.
“They’ll come back with a plan as to how they might help. We’ve got no indication as to how that might look at the moment but they’re very engaged and they’re being very positive at present.
“They’ll be working through the scenarios and we’ll find out more as we work through it with them.”
Despite the doomsday crisis facing all sports, Robinson remains confident New Zealand Rugby will emerge out the other side.
“We’ve got to make it work and we’re positive we can. Everyone has to share in the pain of this. There’s no way in a small ecosystem like New Zealand rugby that we can’t have everyone pitching in and being part of the solution.
“These situations bring people together to work for the greater good. We’ve found there’s been a huge amount of support to try and understand what people can do to help.
“Whether it be Super Rugby or Mitre 10, Heartland or the players, our commercial partners, everyone is pulling together and I imagine that’s the same right across a range of different sectors in New Zealand business and communities.
“That’s the great thing about Kiwis – we’re used to adversity. We’re a small nation that needs to draw on each other and we’ll get through it.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments