All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been forced to take a pay cut and he expects the players will too, as NZ Rugby tries to limit the financial damages caused by the coronavirus.
Foster told NZME that his salary had been reduced by the sport's national governing body, which has been forced to follow the lead of other competitions around the globe to mitigate the impact of a suspended season.
"Our coaching group has definitely taken a big cut," Foster told NZME.
"It's already been agreed to - with rugby, when there's no games there's no revenue, and that's a tough thing.
"It's already been agreed to - with rugby, when there's no games there's no revenue, and that's a tough thing.
"There's been a lot of shaving of the programs, and what it's also come down to is cutting salaries. That's happened for some and happening for others."
Newshub understands several contracted players have admitted they'd be willing to accept a pay cut, and Foster believes they're inevitable.
"It's a different sort of process for players but I know that they're willing to go into that space too. As we go through the next few days, that will be finalised." Foster continued.
"It's a given - they understand that - it's just a matter of working it through so all the different levels of players are dealt with fairly. I haven't had one player yet who doesn't know it's going to happen or doesn't accept that it's going to happen.
"There's a real willingness of those involved in the game to get behind to do whatever it takes to make sure it survives."
It was reported this week that England's Australian coach Eddie Jones had agreed to a 25 per cent salary reduction.
But It's unclear if Foster's sacrifice is at that level but he suggested he may be in line for an additional pay cut if the pandemic stymies rugby's return well into the second half of the year.
At this stage, the All Blacks' first assignments are home Tests against Wales and Scotland in July.
