Not all is well in paradise

The US$323-million deal announced by SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) on Wednesday may secured the financial future of Southern Hemisphere rugby for the next five years, but New Zealand players have already question the extra workload that goes with it.

"Like any deal it has pros and cons," players association chief executive Rob Nichol told the French news agency AFP.

The new five-year deal replaces a 10-year US$555-million agreement which expires next year.

While, according to SANZAR officials, the new deal represents a 16 percent increase on average in annual income, the new Super 14 will see the see the number of matches increase from 69 (in the Super 12) to 94 Super 14 matches from 2006 onwards. The Tri-Nations series will expand from six Test matches to nine Test matches.

Nichol said the demand on players, particularly on the elite players, was obviously going to increase.

"And when you increase the demand in one area in terms of a player's career, you need to take it away in another area ... a compromise that has to be made to meet the requirements in their arrangement," he told the news agency.

David Jones, agent for All Blacks Carlos Spencer and Doug Howlett, wanted to know what additional playing, assembly and training commitments players would face with the extra games in the Tri-Nations and the expanded Super 12.

But New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman Jock Hobbs said expansion of the Super 12 and additional Tri-Nations Tests were pivotal to renegotiating with News Ltd.