Rebel Sport will today decide whether to stock replica All Black rugby jerseys, as manufacturer adidas tries to block online sales of jerseys at a cheaper cost.
Rebel Sport and Briscoes general manager Rod Duke told NZPA he would meet staff members this morning before announcing if his stores would continue selling the jerseys.
All Black replica jerseys are available for $220 in New Zealand stores, but were listed at $US79.99 ($NZ92.68) on the website www.worldrugby.com.
All Black legend Colin Meads today described the price of the jerseys as "astronomical".
Adidas yesterday refused to lower its price, and last night www.worldrugby.com had dropped an option for the tops to be sent to New Zealand.
Website spokeswoman Tanya Hoston told One News adidas' distribution policies "limit our sale of this product outside the United States".
Asked if adidas told the site to remove New Zealand from the distribution list, she said: "From the information I'm receiving, I believe that is true."
Adidas New Zealand manager David Huggett said it understood the concerns but would stick by its retail price.
"We're comfortable our price to the local retail trade is a reasonable one," Mr Huggett said last night.
The price was comparable to that of other replica jerseys, he said.
"Larger retail markets like the United Kingdom and United States often have lower retail cost structures," Mr Huggett said.
He said the price of the All Blacks' replica had not changed since May 2009, with the exception of the GST increase last year.
Mr Huggett said fans knew they were supporting New Zealand rugby when they bought the jersey.
"We invest millions of dollars in Kiwi rugby from grassroots through to the All Blacks, including a major investment in the state-of-the-art All Black jersey."
