Wellington (AFP)

The All Blacks accepted a freeze of 50% of their income on Thursday due to the cessation of competitions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a gesture that their Australian neighbors could soon do.

The New Zealand Rugby Federation (NZR) and the players' union (NZRPA) have reached an agreement to freeze a sum of 25 million New Zealand dollars (14 million euros), corresponding to half of the income (wages basic, bonuses, profit-sharing ...) remaining to be collected by the players until the end of the year.

The agreement concerns all players in Super Rugby, the championship of the provinces of the southern hemisphere, including the All Blacks, but also their female counterparts of the Black Ferns or even members of the rugby teams also under contract with the NZR .

"The NZR and the NZRPA recognize the need to act now on the assumption that professional rugby cannot resume in 2020, even if we will do everything to avoid it," said in a joint press release from the federation and the union Rob Nichol, executive director of NZRPA.

Frozen revenues will be "permanently lost" if competitions cannot resume this year, he said, adding that they will instead be paid to players if matches are re-authorized.

The Australian Federation is negotiating a similar agreement with its contract players.

"We have made good progress," said the executive director of the Australian Federation in a statement released after the last negotiation meeting with the players' union on Tuesday.

The New Zealand government is to lighten measures to tackle the pandemic next week slightly, but has already ruled out any resumption of events attracting the public.

Super Rugby, which brings together teams from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Japan, was suspended in mid-March after matchday 7 of 18 in the regular phase.

It could resume at the same time as the Rugby Championship, a tournament opposing the selections of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina, and therefore without the internationals of these countries, according to a scenario unveiled this week by Andy Marinos, the boss of the Sanzaar which brings together the rugby authorities of these four nations.

© 2020 AFP