Four New Zealand provincial rugby unions – Taranaki, Northland, Southland, and North Harbour which has helped grow many Fijian players over the years may be forced to pull out of this year's Mitre 10 Cup competition over fears they will not be able to pay their players.
Players like Waisake Naholo started with Taranaki before he jumped to Super Rugby and got selected for the All Blacks.
New Zealand Herald reports while other unions have committed to the competition, Manawatu, Wellington, and Otago are also understood to be "on the fence" in similarly precarious positions.
Provincial unions in New Zealand have been locked in negotiations with the Players' Association for the past month as attempts continue to agree to a wage-cut figure that will allow the tournament to progress with all 14 teams involved.
As it stands, significant concessions are required for all teams to make the revised September 11 start line.
[Source: NZ Herald]
