NZ has central contracting so there's no salary cap per se: although there's a cap on how much an individual player can earn, there's no limit on how many top-$ players a side can have. The conventional wisdom is that NZ teams spend less on players than Australia does, even without allowing for the exchange rate: I think our total Super Rugby salary budget is around $20Mn. Even if skyTV can honour the $100Mn p.a. contract they signed last year, I don't see NZR being able to suddenly budget $32Mn for player payments but they could maybe stretch it to $24Mn at which point a sixth team becomes theoretically feasible $-wise but obviously begs the question of where to base it & what its catchment area looks like.
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Detailed and thought provoking as usual, WoB.
Unfortunately where it points is that an Aus pro rugby future with NZ is untenable. And NZ should seriously consider the ramifications of that. They can kick the can down the road, with a likely supportive RA, but ultimately it defaults in Australia to shrink to greatness. This might achieve a few more seasons for NZ but ultimately Aus fails and NZ achieves the same result, though with a strategy of slow speed train-wreck.
International connection has no reason to change. And perhaps a Champions Cup style TT conclusion to independent domestic comps can be arranged. Much more even playing field there if the Aus teams become rep teams, SOO or some format.
Back in Aus, plans for a broader domestic comp involving PI, or Japan, etc. These would likely be negotiated in competition with NZ - a competition we are hilariously unlikely to win. So should plan with NZ.
Increasingly, and disappointingly, I am resigned to the “slow speed train crash” strategy. In part because I have no reason think that RA are in sufficiently stupid to endorse it. And in part because NZRU are more likely to prove the decision maker.
There are no good solutions, but in Aus, if possible I would prefer a broader domestic comp, with short Super conclusion to the season. Thence internationals.