Controversial choice: New sponsor's logo
All Blacks fans have reacted angrily to the New Zealand Rugby Union's controversial decision to sell commercial space on the front of the world champions' jersey.
The All Blacks' official Facebook page has been flooded with comments from passionate New Zealanders who object to having the name of US insurance giant AIG splashed across the front of the side's shirt.
Unlike most international sports teams, the All Blacks' famous black attire has largely been commercial free, apart from the logo of kit supplier adidas and a short-lived deal with a local brewer in the 1990s.
But, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the tradition was unsustainable and the AIG deal, which will run until mid 2018, would provide a much need increase in cashflow.
However, his argument did not hold with purists who called the decision a "disgrace" and "disrespectful".
"One of the things that made the All Blacks so special, put them ahead of every other nation and world number one is the pride in the jersey," Nathan Hulme posted on Facebook.
"Now the NZRU have ruined that and what it stands for, sold out our pride and passion. Right at the heart of the all black jersey."
Peter Armitage added: "Steve Tew hang your head, you are a disgrace to the greatest team the world has ever seen."
Nico de Jong acknowledged the NZRU need to attract funds but not at the expense of the black jersey.
"It is part of our kiwi heritage, and by placing a company name on the front I think is completely disrespectful, especially considering it is a foreign company," he wrote.
Other critics targeted the choice of sponsor given that AIG required a $182 billion bailout from the US government at the height of the global financial crisis.
"It is so disappointing to see the NZRU choose such an unworthy company to partner with and even worse, give ownership of the black jersey by splashing their tainted brand over where the heart once beat," wrote Kano Wins.
John Copestake said: "You have ruined all the history and class of the black jersey by staining it with AIG on the chest. NZRU you make me sick."
Even players objected to the original proposal, forcing a reduction in the size of the logo and the removal of a white box around it.
"When we saw the size of it and the box we thought it was too big for the jersey," hooker Keven Mealamu revealed.
"So it's nice that they were respectful and able to take the box off and keep it to the size it is now."
But Tew made it clear there was no room for any further compromise.
"We respect people who decide that it's not a good idea, but we're the ones in charge of the legacy at the moment and we'll make the decisions we need to make," he said.
He added it cost about NZ$100 million ($82 million) to run rugby in New Zealand and significantly more cash was needed for the sport to survive and grow.
"It's a challenge for us, and we need some money."
The All Blacks will wear the new jersey for the first time when they play Australia in Brisbane on October 20.
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
"One of the things that made the All Blacks so special, put them ahead of every other nation and world number one is the pride in the jersey," Nathan Hulme posted on Facebook.
Yeah because only New Zealanders have any pride in their jerseys...
Okay, ignoring the Mr Hulme's rampant arrogance, New Zealand are going to have a lot of discisions to make about making money over protecting what they value. And I'm not just talking about rugby, the secret about what a great place NZ is to live is out and that means more people, more money, more development, higher costs of living, less unspoilt New Zealand. I think anyone who loves New Zealand are in for alot of heartache over the next 10 years.
This little snapshot of "progress" is going to be repeated again and again so if you are serious about preserving Kiwiana then don't listen to Steve Tew, in fact insist on a clean jersey. Get organised and threaten to boycott the all blacks. Its three small white letters at the moment, come 2019 it'll be bright a Green and Purple Insurnace Company logo. Don't get fobbed off. "Unsustainable" my backside. If you love your country then get organised and get ready because the commercial rape and pillage is incoming NZ.
Posted 13:38 23rd October 2012
capedcrusader says...
One of the biggest problems is that the NZRFU & it's franchises do not and never have offered merchandising. Proper merchandising. I posted recently that Man U made £160M in merchandising in the 2011 financial year (give or take). why why why do the NZRFU & it's pets not make available at bare minimum franchise season dvd hi-lights?? I would give my right arm to own hi-lights of the 1999 season and 2002 haha. My mate has copious amts of Man U vids to get sh@@t faced and watch.
Head in sand. ok they wont make £160M or even a fraction of it but at least put it to market.
The logo fiasco and I call it a fiasco on the basis that NZ rugby have had to allow TV to dictact what time their population watch games live because more people watch the games from outside of NZ than in - a result of F A humans in the country. Therefore what has happened is commercial reality. If they found other ways to extract the rewards of success perhaps NZRFU would not need to bend over to sky (as much (as unlikely as that would be)) and at least some games could be played at times that would reward the players with fan participation.....
@pearcewreck - sorry ur team is so shite that u need to troll to get your frustration @ awe across.
@ all I agree with the fact that what has become is born from necessity & yes of all sponsors it happens to be a US bailed out failed assurance giant rebranding itself on its previous name (wtf!) but if AIG are ugly enough to throw the NZRFU the largest rugby sponsorship deal outside of their other largest rugby sponsorship deal then REALLY who r we (the kiwi rugby whanau) to grumble?
Posted 21:30 19th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
If there must be a sponsor then Guiness. All they would have to do is stitch a single stitch white line in a pint glass shape down from the already white collars.
Posted 10:54 18th October 2012
7ton says...
Zandberg "why cant NZ pick foreign based players"
Distance, time zones, training camps, arguments with overseas private owned clubs and so on
Posted 18:39 17th October 2012
PharKenal says...
aig is mud!
Fact: The NZRFU needs the cash
Fact: Sponsorship will always be a part of professional sport
Fact: aig need the All Blacks
Fact: The All Blacks need the capital but not from aig
Currently awaiting my new (aig less) All Blacks jersey to go along with my other 4. It will fit in nicely next to my 3 Blues and 2 Auckland NPC jerseys.
Unfortunately my last attended All Blacks test match was Hong Kong 2008. This is because I work in China.
I will continue to support the All Blacks even with this lack luster sponsor.
Wobblies to get the beat down from the All Blacks come Saturday.
All Blacks : Incredibly Good
Posted 16:26 17th October 2012
hellovanite says...
Re: my last comments apologies to Man Utd fans, but then again!
Posted 06:24 17th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - I think the big issue is that the development of NZ rugby at lower level is suffering, combined with the tempting overseas offers.
The influx of much needed funds really needs to get down a level or two, away from the top tier and into development.
I agree, NZ seem to have done well without it, but there are signs that the system is financially creaking.
Posted 16:22 16th October 2012
Zandberg says...
Very good point, ArmchairGeneral! I am puzzled about "professionalism" being the reason for selling out to a foreign based bailed-out looser company, just to keep players in New Zealand. If the principles of professionalism are being applied, why can NZ not pick foreign-based players for their national teams, as happens in other sports, eg football? Club football teams have big company logos on their shirts, but the NATIONAL teams don't - they only have the jersey manufacturer's logo. Whatever, the AIG-haka will certainly look funny...
Posted 15:32 16th October 2012
piriaka says...
Bring back Steinlager!!! All is forgiven!!!
Posted 12:52 16th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I don't get why it's needed? Money in sport is needed to get to NO1 if others are spending more AND beating you because of it. If you are consistently NO1 how can the top brass say its not sustainable. Clearly ABs are top level sustainable. AIG Money is not needed. I confess I have not read the 4 page trail. The objective is not to make money at international level, it is to win. Money is a means not an end. Don't sell out: don't need to, lucky buggers!
Posted 11:55 16th October 2012
krusada says...
Let me guess, the same Kiwi's wanting a clean black jersey are the same ones not attending games or buying merchandise. I'm a huge All Black fan, but this is a good thing. The same idiots that don't like it should pay more for their seats at ABs games.
Posted 10:37 16th October 2012
Ferdie says...
the only fuming appears to be here, maybe 20 people; looked at today's NZ Herald and almost 40 rugby stories. No mention of the jersey sponsor deal. Old news.
A done deal.
Posted 10:12 16th October 2012
hellovanite says...
Commercial Realism? maybe.... But AIG$#%!!.... Not eactly synonymous with winning
Posted 07:10 16th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
yeah i dont see the relevance of what idiots on facebook think. it would be like actually acknowledging the opinions of the people posting on here, what would be the point of that.
Posted 06:18 16th October 2012
MacTavish says...
I would have tolerated the dropping of the Adidas Logo, or the Fern on the Shorts in place of the AIG Logo. Would have been a balanced compromise. Logo visible, jersey untouched. The fact that a number of senior players knocked back the outline and the font size shows resistance felt by more than a few angry fans. Some accept it as reality, you will find more against than for following the players sentiments. As soon as I saw this garbage splashed across the internet, I went straight to the store and got a new jersey before it was poisoned. Last chance to get a sponsor free All Black Jersey for 5 years, maybe forever. Just like I bought the last ever Springbok Jersey before the Springbok was moved to the other side. (and I am a Kiwi yes). I will at least have these jerseys as memento before some selfish idiots threw history and tradition out the door¿
Posted 03:36 16th October 2012
wfgwoody says...
Its a Pro game now. I say make the jersey look like NASCAR if it keeps the talent in new Zealand!
Posted 23:35 15th October 2012
Pearcewreck says...
Boohoohoo, poor old Kiwis with your precious little black jersey that's gone and got itself all ruined. Ohh, didums. There, there, it will be allright....
Welcome to the real world Kiwis, suck it up.
It's called proffesionalism, if you want to pay the players, you need money, and lots of it. Maybe you Kiwis who are whinging should spend a bit more money on the game, ie match tickets or merchandise etc, then the NZRU wouldn't have this problem.
Posted 22:53 15th October 2012
SamtheRed says...
trianglechoke
The NFL manage to spend all that money without shirt sponsors. There are no sponsor logos on the uniforms. So it can be done, but you need a much larger population to support a team.
Posted 18:18 15th October 2012
northandsouth says...
Lazy journalism that makes us look like a bunch of unreasonable moaners. I and loads of my kiwi mates see this as a not particularly pleasing but realistic choice. Every country has unreasonable people, so please have some integrity and don't make a sweeping and derogatory generalisation that makes us look unfairly bad on a global website. The fantastic NZ players aren't going to stay local for nothing, most already play for a fraction of what they could get overseas. The same numpties criticising this would be the first on the bandwagon to slag off the NZRU if they lost lots of talent. I for one am not thrilled about the choice of AIG, but I am somewhat pleased we negotiated them back from the bigger dominant logo they got with the other kiwi teams.
Posted 16:42 15th October 2012
Carpelone says...
The worst are Stade Francaise, the All Pinks
Posted 16:03 15th October 2012