A new employment agreement signed by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the association representing its professional players has cleared the way for overseas players to join New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the first time.

Extracts from articles on News24 and Rugby Heaven.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has hailed the new Collective Employment Agreement with its players as a landmark agreement that secures the immediate future for the professional game.

The NZRU and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association have signed a new collective for professional rugby players in New Zealand from 2010 to 2012, confirmed via release from head office today.

The formal signing follows the December announcement that they had reached agreement on the major issues raised during collective bargaining, including the all-important area of the contracting of players.

As signalled last year, the new collective includes:

• the continuation of the revenue-sharing model at a revised level,

• the introduction of a new player contracting and payment model that will see:

1 – Super rugby franchises (in conjunction with the NZRU) directly contracting players to their squads (regardless of which province they choose to play for);

2 – Super rugby squads expanded to between 30 and 32 players with an ability to include two overseas players subject to certain criteria and NZRU approval from 2011 onwards;

3 – Provincial unions subject to a revised salary cap model that includes a limit on what any player can be paid by a province

• the incorporation of the new format for the Super rugby and ITM Cup domestic competition from 2011; and

• confirmation of initiatives relating to players at provincial and academy levels being unable to assemble for rugby requirements between 9am-5pm outside of the competition period and required as part of their contract to undertake some form of meaningful work and/or study.

The new agreement is effective from January 1 next year.

NZRU general manager professional rugby Neil Sorensen welcomed the new agreement as a significant milestone for the professional game in New Zealand. When allied with the new broadcasting deal and the extension of the adidas contract through to 2019, he says it provides crucial certainty about the future.

”It has taken significant work to get here but there has been tremendous goodwill and effort by all those involved,” said Sorensen.

“The new agreement is one that achieves a positive result for the New Zealand rugby community at large.

“The NZRU and players can be proud of it… We are confident it will provide a basis for the sustainability of professional rugby at all levels.”

NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol said the new agreement dealt with a number of challenging issues.

”[It] provides a level of certainty around the competitions and the overall contracting model that will provide a better platform for the game to move forward.

”The players are proud of the results produced for rugby in New Zealand but we know we still have ongoing challenges and opportunities to address to ensure rugby’s long-term growth and success,” Nichol said.