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'We should be way more mature than that': Speculation over Black Ferns pay detracting from World Cup

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Hannah Peters - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Former All Blacks John Kirwan and Jeff Wilson have been left disappointed after reports surfaced last week over pay differences between the England women’s team and the Black Ferns.

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Reports surfaced in the UK media over incentives for the Red Roses by the RFU that will pay NZD$30,000 per player for a World Cup victory while their New Zealand counterparts won’t receive a World Cup bonus.

NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol responded by claiming the Black Ferns salaries were ‘the best in the world’ even factoring in England’s bonus scheme.

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The Breakdown pundits said the focus on contracts while the World Cup is in progress has detracted from the spectacle over the first two weekends of competition.

“I’ll just say this, it’s disappointing for me, and I understand that World Rugby had clear reasons why they are playing all the games on the weekend at single venues, three on each day, but what happens is there is five days of discussion [in between],” Wilson said.

“We’ve been sidetracked by talking about who is going to get what if they win rather than talking about the fact there are games going on.

“We should be talking about the rugby, talk about that stuff afterwards.

“I understand why people want to talk about it because we are trying to highlight everything in the game. I don’t care about anything on the money side of it, all I care about is the teams and who is playing and who is on track.”

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Former All Black great Kirwan said that everyone should be ‘more mature’ and understand that the nature of professional sport means different financial rewards will always be the case.

“What you need to realise right now is that the women’s game is still in the investment phase,” Kirwan explained to The Breakdown panel.

“So that’s why they are playing it on the weekends, it will be about cost. I get that.

“But I don’t understand why we are talking about the salaries and who is getting this and who is going to win that [financially], it’s a professional sport.

“We should be way more mature than that. Whatever someone gets paid is irrelevant.

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“I read an article where they put the wages out, were they true or false?”

Guest panelist Black Ferns midfielder Chelsea Semple was in a unique position to comment on the matter.

Still under a contract with New Zealand Rugby, she disputed the figures reported and claimed the reports were ‘way off’ with the numbers they were suggesting.

“This whole thing came out mid week was a real shame and I hope the girls aren’t talking about it in camp because they have bigger things to focus on,” Semple said.

“That article that did come out, for me someone who is contracted, it wasn’t right, it was incorrect. The numbers weren’t correct, they were way off.

“It was frustrating. All of that chat is just creating rumours and it’s taking away from this amazing spectacle right now which is the Rugby World Cup.”

 

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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