The organisers of the Brisbane Global Tens rugby event say they're surprised by reports that current All Blacks have been ruled out of the tournament.
Israel Dagg, Joseph Parker and Duco founder David Higgins at the Tens announcement. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The pre-Super Rugby tournament run by Duco events, which boasts All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg as an ambassador alongside Wallabies star Israel Folau, will be held next month on February 11-12.
New Zealand Rugby is bound by the players' collective bargaining agreement which enshrines a 12-week break from the game.
The Tens tournament is set to fall too close to the All Blacks' last European tour match against France at the end of November and franchises have reportedly been instructed not to make players available.
The move would rule out stars such as Dagg, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara and Jerome Kaino.
The New Zealand Rugby Union Players Association said there were never any promises about All Blacks' availability.
"It was known right from the outset that All Blacks that were on the end of year tour ... there'd be no obligation on them to play," NZRUPA chief executive Rob Nichols told the NZ Herald.
"They'd only play if everyone agreed, i.e. New Zealand Rugby, the players, the franchises.
"That 12 weeks a year is very, very important and that overrides everything."
The tournament is backed by Duco Events, the creators of the NRL's successful Auckland Nines and the handlers of New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker, which had secured strong Queensland government support.
All 10 Australian and NZ Super Rugby franchises - plus French glamour club Toulon, Japanese powerhouse Panasonic Wild Knights, South Africa's Blue Bulls and the Samoan national team - are locked in for the two-day tournament.
Duco say they've received the provisional squads from the competing teams, which include ten players who participated in the All Blacks European tour at the end of last year.
Those selections are now subject to ratification by New Zealand Rugby, and they are currently negotiating to confirm them.
-AAP/RNZ
