Leading All Blacks and Black Ferns aren't completely against New Zealand Rugby's proposed $465 million deal with US company Silver Lake says All Black players Dane Coles.
Coles, All Blacks captain Sam Cane along with Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Dane Coles and Black Ferns Sarah Hirini and Selica Winiata signed a letter from the Rugby Players Association expressing concern about the proposal to sell a 15 percent stake in New Zealand Rugby's commercial rights.
Photo: PhotoSport / Clay Cross
But Coles maintains the players remain open to discussion over a deal.
"Those boys who signed that letter and the ladies have been copping it but we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't step in... that's why there's a players association so when deals like this happen we can have a discussion, it's not about completely saying no we're not accepting that, we would look like fools if the players association just didn't say anything and New Zealand Rugby did the deal," Coles said.