NZR demand 'ransom' payment from Rugby Australia in exchange for Samu's release

Yesterday, the NZRU confirmed it had been in contact with Rugby Australia regarding their request to have Crusaders loose forward Pete Samu available for Australia's test series against Ireland.

“We put a proposal to Rugby Australia early today that would allow Pete Samu to be available for selection in June and for the Rugby Championship,” NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said.

“Rugby Australia is currently contemplating this proposal.”

The proposal reportedly includes a NZD$50,000 payment to the NZR according to The Daily Telegraph which Rugby Australia are reluctant to pay.

The Melbourne-born flanker is a dual-eligible player due to his residency over three years in New Zealand which opens NZRU's ability to deny a request to play for another country under World Rugby rules.

Samu has the support of both Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and Cheif Executive Hamish Riach.

“He’s going to be a Wallaby at some stage, isn’t he?

“If that’s in June good on him — he’s an Australian who wants to play for Australia,” Robertson said.

“He’s good enough to be a Wallaby.”

The 26-year-old will be available to play for the Wallabies once his contractual commitments end with the Crusaders and NZR.

“He’s Australian, he’s committed to the Brumbies next year, the Wallabies want him and he’s clearly going to play international rugby for the Wallabies at some point," said Riach.

“So we’re quite happy for that to be sooner rather than later.”

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