Sport

Māori All Black game concerns NZ Rugby staff

12:46 pm on 6 November 2020

The Māori All Blacks could play a Pasifika rugby side in Hamilton next month but the match has caused consternation for some New Zealand Rugby staff.

The Maori All Blacks are set to get two games against a Pasifika side this year. Photo: Photosport

RNZ understands the New Zealand Rugby board have signed off on the match.

However some NZR staff are unhappy about the game, which is forecast to make a $150,000 loss, after the organisation made a quarter of it's staff redundant in June, cutting 40 jobs.

New Zealand Rugby is projecting a loss of more than 40 million dollars in 2020, due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NZR has received $5.8 million in wage subsidies from government under its Covid-10 financial assistance packages.

RNZ has sought comment from New Zealand Rugby over the issue but is yet to receive a response.

The Māori All Black side played just two games last year. They lost 27-10 to Fiji in Suva but won 26-17 a week later in Rotorua.

-RNZ