NPC 2025
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@SouthernMann It will stay I believe ,NZR are aware (at last) how important it is, for development pathway, and perhaps trying to make it affordable.
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@SouthernMann It will stay I believe ,NZR are aware (at last) how important it is, for development pathway, and perhaps trying to make it affordable.
NZR does not see it as a development pathway. It was backed into a corner by provincial unions. Development pathways are, as mentioned from NZ Schools through to Super.
It will stay. It is just reducing the funding means it is slowly getting squeezed from the top down. It is very difficult for adult men, closer to 30 than 20 to organise their lives to spend four months of the year living on 25k.
It is one of the few jobs in NZ where the pay rates is going down.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
@SouthernMann It will stay I believe ,NZR are aware (at last) how important it is, for development pathway, and perhaps trying to make it affordable.
NZR does not see it as a development pathway. It was backed into a corner by provincial unions. Development pathways are, as mentioned from NZ Schools through to Super.
It will stay. It is just reducing the funding means it is slowly getting squeezed from the top down. It is very difficult for adult men, closer to 30 than 20 to organise their lives to spend four months of the year living on 25k.
It is one of the few jobs in NZ where the pay rates is going down.
Yes it’s clearly getting downgraded. Lower pay and next year less tv coverage. Each year fans of NPC rugby die and they are not replaced at the same rate.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
The answer is you need to have a very sympathetic employer, or be a student
Gone are the days when an employer was.proud to have an NPC player on thier staff, while giving them time off when needed for rugby.
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Caleb Makene also playing Club Rugby for New Brighton in Christchurch. looks as if Canterbury are trying to bring in a few mid 20's aged guys to provide depth for them.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
NZR does not see it as a development pathway.
Financials aside, the new board seems more sympathetic to the role the NPC plays. If NZR wants to get serious with player development pathways they would still need to inject a lot of money into the SR teams to provide a structured season of games (Dev, U20), not just a few games you can count on one hand for those teams. Essentially the NRL model. That's the job the PUs are currently doing for them for most of the rugby season.
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@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
It is one of the few jobs in NZ where the pay rates is going down.
It's worth noting that coverage I've seen about the cap possibly dropping hasn't taken inflation into account
Was the cap 1.1 million in 2020? I'll assume it was.. that would be the equivalent off ~1.35 million now. A drop down to 850k is a significant downgrade
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In the last collective agreement the salary cap was $1.1M per year for the term 2022-24. You can usually find those documents on the NZRPA website or google. Before that it was:
For Contract Year 2019 - $1,186,290
For Contract Year 2020 -$1,245,605
2021 ?The new document:
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Thanks. So a move to 850k would be an enormous cut in real terms in just a few years
That changes players incentives significantly. Rugby or another sport? Play overseas? Why continue playing as a young adult if you miss out on age grade sides?
If the cap drops and the rumour posted earlier about Sky only wanting to show 2 out of 7 games per week from 2026 it'll be hard for anyone to claim this isn't a death spiral
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@Fredsaua12 said in NPC 2025:
Caleb Makene also playing Club Rugby for New Brighton in Christchurch. looks as if Canterbury are trying to bring in a few mid 20's aged guys to provide depth for them.
Or as I have been saying around how it is difficult for older guys to support themselves. Makene is an example, where he has gone back to where he studied, and potentially has connections for employment opportunities. Just a stab in the dark around that.
I think @Bovidae has hit the nail on the head around NPC's role. Due to the failure of SANZAR/NZR to invest properly into proper development or even B comps for Super. It becomes a defacto second tier comp. Not because it was designed to to do it, but because it is the gap it can fill.
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@Fredsaua12 I think he even got a game or two for Crusaders development earlier in the season
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The reason NPC is so important is still development, and have heard NZR say as such. A development comp in super doesn't fill that need , neither do academies etc. Too learn rugby young players have to be playing with and against older heads etc. I agree it's a problem, I know a few in Naki team have played NPC and MLR etc to make ends meet. Others have jpbs (Mike Bent is a farmer etc), The preoblem reamains the the likes of mainly the super franchise bases are in cities etc and generally got more access to sponsorship etc. There are unions like the Naki etc that still make money and have fairly robust systems in place, and others like Manawatu, Southland etc are always going to sruggle. I have no idea what answer is, and doubt whether any of us do, if it doesnt involve dropping a couple of teams.
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@SouthernMann Caleb is back in Christchurch, starting a family. He won't be playing for the Magpies, but hasn't ruled out playing for Canterbury .
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Going before the NPC.
Taranaki Rugby farewell Ricky Riccitelli 💛🖤
Ricky was contracted for the 2025 Bunnings NPC season; however, we have granted him an early release to take up a contract in France.
With 81 games in the Amber and Black jersey, he leaves behind a lasting legacy and memories that will last a lifetime for Yarrows Taranaki Bulls fans.
Thank you, Ricky. One of the proudest to wear the jersey -
Northland HP squad to face Auckland tomorrow
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Was happy today, mate from golf rung me up, what's tour seat numbers etc at Yarrows Stadium. Was getting a season ticket etc, has been reluctant last few years citing price of beers etc, but says I not missing out anymore. I want to actually be there! Great stuff, the more the merrier for me!
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@taniwharugby Marley Murphy is ex-Hamilton BHS and was playing in BOP. He must have moved for more opportunity.
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@Bovidae plays for Kamo but didn't start the early rounds so unsure when he turned up...I haven't seen him play yet.
There is 1 9 spot for certain up for grabs, can't recall if we have signed a 2nd one behind Nock...so maybe 2 spots
