Highlanders and Hurricanes now the only NZ Super Rugby franchises who've not had to make staff redundant

The Highlanders and Hurricanes are now the only New Zealand Super Rugby franchises who have not had to make staff redundant as the coronavirus crisis and resultant sporting shutdown continues to take its toll.

With the Crusaders announcing job cuts earlier this week and Blues and Chiefs joining them in confirming they, too, have had to let employees go, the Wellington and Dunedin-based franchises now remain the lone wolves clinging to existing staffing levels.

However, it may be only a matter of time before they, too, have to cut their cloth as revenue streams dry up and rugby franchises are left trying to figure a way out of the gloom.

Stuff.co.nz reports all five franchises have received $250,000 support payments from New Zealand Rugby to help get them through the shutdown, while all have also mined the Government's wage subsidy, understood to be to the tune of around $142,000 each.

They have all also made salary cutbacks across the board for staff.

[Source : Stuff.co.nz]