Umaga signs million-dollar Cup deal
Tana Umaga has signed a million-dollar deal to captain a new team up until the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Tourism New Zealand's virtual Front Row Rugby Club has contracted the former All Black captain to front an online campaign to boost tourist numbers for the cup.
Chief executive George Hickton would not confirm how much they had paid Umaga, 34, but The Dominion Post understands he will be paid $200,000 a year to appear on an internet and DVD marketing campaign till the 2011 championships.
Umaga has also signed a big-money two-year deal to be general manager for French second division team Toulon. He earned him more than €300,000 (NZ$533,000) while playing seven games for the club last year.
Tourism NZ's online rugby club would enlist travelling Kiwis as its ambassadors, supplying anyone who signed up with a New Zealand marketing pack and a DVD invitation personalised by Umaga.
The Wainuiomata-born rugby star was a popular pick for government-funded campaigns, with a $510,000 three-year package signed with the Education Ministry in 2005 to front Team-Up, a $16 million plan to get parents involved in their children's education.
Signing Umaga to captain the team was a good way to identify with the international rugby fan base, Hickton said. "He's got a lot of mana as an ex-All Black captain. He was our No 1 choice."
Over the next four years Tourism New Zealand would spend up to $7.5 million a year on Rugby World Cup associated promotions, Hickton added.
- Soured from Rugby Heaven
Members Menu
