New Zealand Rugby is willing to throw the bank at keeping Ben Smith in the country.
Fresh from announcing a new collective agreement for the next three years, New Zealand Rugby now has more money to play with in regards to keeping players in the country, and is believed to be using it to try to retain Smith.
The new agreement has increased the players payment pool from $121 million to $191 million, and with it almost $25 million has been kept aside as ‘‘retainer’’ payments for players who are part of the All Black squad.
That is an increase of more than 50% of the last collective agreement when just under $16 million was set aside to retain top players.
Cashed up, with money in the bank from broadcasting deals previously announced, the union now has the job of getting down to business and signing some key All Blacks.
They do not come much bigger than Smith, the All Blacks first-choice fullback, who was promoted to the vice-captaincy of the national side this season.
Smith (30) is believed to have received a big offer from French club Pau, in the region of $2 million and will be free to move to the ambitious French club some time next year.
He comes off a four-year contract with the national union next year and negotiations have already started to get him to stay in New Zealand.
Smith is on leave while recovering from a fractured finger, and appears to be some way away from making a decision.
But it is understood New Zealand Rugby is willing to put a serious dent in its war chest to keep Smith. Though they can not match the offer made by the French club, they have made a substantial offer to Smith and he is mulling it over this summer.
The union also has the likes of Israel Dagg, Aaron Cruden and Sam Whitelock coming off contract at the same time as Smith, and though the union is unlikely to keep everyone, it will be able to come to the table with a decent briefcase of cash.
All Black captain Kieran Read is also off contract but is certain to stay in New Zealand.
Players could double their salaries going to France but the offer made to Smith by New Zealand Rugby is believed to be in the same ballpark as the French overture.
Not only is Smith a senior All Black with more than 60 caps to his name, but he is the face of the Highlanders. He has played for the franchise since 2009 and is poised to become the most capped Highlander next season. Smith has been the co-captain of the team since 2014.
If he goes, it will be a big blow for the franchise, which is just getting over the loss of coach Jamie Joseph.
