It’s a lot less than the amount paid to England players.
Jerome Kaino has revealed how much the All Blacks get paid in an open and refreshingly honest interview.
The 37-year-old was an integral part of the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup winning sides of 2011 and 2015.
Kaino was appearing as a guest on this week’s episode of House of Rugby alongside host Lee McKenzie, Ireland’s Sean O’Brien and Wales centre Jonathan Davies.
After reflecting on the latest round of Guinness Six Nations action, the topic turned to budgets. More specifically, how much New Zealand stars get paid to represent their nation.
Jerome Kaino won the Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)House of Rugby co-host O’Brien has routinely ribbed England stars such as Jamie George for the money they reportedly receive.
Back in August 2020, The Telegraph reported that England’s match fee was to be reduced from £23,000 to £17,250 due to the economic impact of Covid-19.
This figure is still too high, according to O’Brien. “The English match fee is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion,” he remarked.
Wales centre Davies agreed, claiming “it is ridiculous”.
O’Brien then put the spotlight on All Blacks legend Kaino. He asked: “How much do the New Zealand boys get, Jerome?”
Kaino said it was a lot less than the amount paid to England players.
“We get 7,500NZD (New Zealand dollars) a week, an assembly fee.”
In pound sterling, that works out at around £3,890.
By comparison, this made news of the All Blacks wage a surprise.
Elsewhere in this week’s show, Kaino spoke highly of fellow Toulouse teammate Antoine Dupont, who was recently referred to as the greatest current player in world rugby by All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith.
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“I think he’s the best nine in the world,” Kaino claimed.
The Rugby World Cup winner also eulogised about the talents of Springboks flyer Cheslin Kolbe, a teammate of Kaino and Dupont’s at Toulouse.
“Cheslin’s like Antoine Dupont in that he creates something from nothing,” said the All Blacks star.
“For someone so small, he’s deceptively strong for his size. He’s incredible to play with.”
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