Chronicle EditorWELLINGTON. – Captain Kieran Read is likely to become the first All Black to earn more than $1 million per season after New Zealand Rugby agreed a major boost in salaries under a collective agreement with its Players’ Association.In a move detailed yesterday, NZR has agreed to boost its player payment pool by $70 million from $120 million to $190 million over the next three years.
The boost recognises increases in sponsorship and broadcast revenue, including an estimated $40 million windfall from next year’s British and Irish Lions Tour, and is designed to protect New Zealand’s leading players from raids by overseas clubs.
Read comes off contract next year and is poised to announce a new deal through the 2019 Rugby World Cup which could take him through the $1 million barrier. – AFP.
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