0
Cost cuts put Super men on the bus
By RICHARD KNOWLER - The Press | Tuesday, 24 February 2009
GROUNDED: The Crusaders got their first taste of the new directive for travelling squads to travel by bus instead of flying for shorter journeys when they travelled by bus from Canberra to Sydney.
Related Links
Advertisement
Sanzar's cost-cutting has forced Super 14 players and their management to sacrifice some creature comforts this season.
In a bid to save money, Sanzar, which pays the accommodation and travel costs for travelling squads, has ordered teams to travel by bus instead of flying for shorter journeys, and told management to fly economy instead of business class for longer legs such as those between South Africa and Australia.
Management coaches, doctors, managers, trainers and physiotherapists have also been instructed to share rooms while on the road.
The Crusaders got their first taste of the new directive when they travelled by bus from Canberra to Sydney on Sunday, instead of flying.
Flying between the cities usually takes 45 minutes, while travelling by road takes around three hours.
The arrangement was not ideal for the Crusaders, who have a short six-day turnaround before facing the Hurricanes at AMI Stadium on Friday night.
Teams usually do everything they can to minimise inconvenience for their players after games as they aim to get them home as quickly as possible to recover and rehabilitate from injuries.
New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol said when his organisation was told by team managers earlier this year it asked for a "please explain" from Sanzar, but it did not change its mind.
Nichol said the RPA was concerned that team managers were forced to fly economy on the long hauls and immediately expected to work organising logistics and travel in a country like South Africa.
"We have got some sympathy with the managers there and it was a trade-off Sanzar decided to make on that topic," Nichol said.
While players share rooms, expecting managers, coaches and doctors to share living areas was not ideal. There was potential for such conditions to turn people off the jobs.
"These are mature people who are often married with kids and spend a lot of time away from home," he said.
"If we want to retain really good talent in these jobs we need to make sure the players and teams can perform at their peak.
"If we want the appropriate support around them, then we have to have the best people."
Nichol noted the arrangements had the potential to make it more difficult for teams to recover from injuries and prepare for matches.
While acknowledging travel and accommodation were a huge cost for Sanzar and all organisations were being squeezed financially by the credit crunch, Nichol questioned if the sacrifices were worth it.
"We have a number of valid reasons to query whether they will continue with it next year."
Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said the franchise had accepted Sanzar's decision. "The challenge is what it is. It's not a drama."
http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4857943a22363.html