Business of Sport: The shot across the bows of NPC rugby unions may have been deliberate

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson. (Image: Getty)

Fri, 18 Aug 2023

A senior figure involved in New Zealand Rugby’s Silver Lake deal recently confided to me that he worries that some of the United States private equity company’s $200 million investment is being spent on National Provincial Championship (NPC) playing squads. The money being filtered down to NZ Rugby’s (NZR) 26 provincial unions is earmarked for the club and community game, including improvements to facilities and the necessary investment in the girls' and women’s game. But creative accounting can cover up a...

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