David Moffett: Former New Zealand Rugby CEO on the sponsorship deal between Toyota and the All Blacks

Another big win for New Zealand Rugby in the wake of the messy end to a major sponsorship agreement. 

Vehicle manufacturer Toyota has reportedly signed a multi-million dollar agreement to put its name on the All Blacks training kit – partly replacing INEOS. 

The agreement is also believed to include the provision of vehicles for players and management who don’t have existing contracts with previous vehicle partner, Ford. 

Former NZ Rugby CEO David Moffett told Mike Hosking it’s good news. 

He says it’s very similar to the Ford deal that they had back in 1995. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You Zealand Rugby have solved their anios problem, or at

(00:02):
least part of it. Toyota, we hear this morning are
taking the naming rights to the training kit. The former
Rugby CEO David Moffett iss back, Well, it's David, morning to.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
You, Good morning, Ran. How are you very well?

Speaker 1 (00:11):
What does that actually mean? The training kit? Is that
the regular kit, all the kits, some of the kit
or just the training kit.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, by the sound of it, it's it's the training kit.
So that's you know, when your blacks are in camp,
they spend a lot of time training obviously, and that's
where they'll get their their exposure. Yeah. No, I think
it's I think it's good news. I mean, I'm I'm
really positive about it. I'd like to know what percentage

(00:39):
is cash and what percentage is in kind because obviously
New Zealand Rugby needs as much cash as they can get.
But yeah, very similar to the Ford deal that we
did back in nineteen ninety five. Really indeed.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
So yeah, well that's interesting because this is supposed to
the Toyota is supposed to place Ford and anios. I
can't see it comes even close. Have they still got
some money worries.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, I think they've always got money worries at the moment,
like every other rugby union in the world. You know,
cash is king and it's never been more important than
it is now in the game right around the world.
To be perfectly honest with you, but yeah, I mean, look,
small steps and steps in the right direction. But Mike,

(01:21):
I don't think that's the best news that they've had recently.
The best news is the announcement by the NRL that
they're not going to even think about another the twentieth
team until twenty thirty two, and a lot of what's
been said seems to me that they're going to be
actually putting something in the western corridor of Brisbane. Yes,

(01:42):
so no team here for the South Island and no
additional team for New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
So I think it doesn't drain the competition. The Innos
thing was interesting to me because Inios is not a
name that I mean Toyota, although they're Japanese. Are you
quite long with being a local company? I mean a
lot of people drive Toyota, so I get that, but
is that a better deal then someone? You go, well,
who the hell is in Theos? And they bug it
off anyway.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Yeah, it is absolutely. Toyota is a well brand, very
well known, loved here in New Zealand. Many people drive toyotas.
We've got one, and yeah, I look, I think it's
very positive. Not quite sure about what mix, you know,
what they've actually got the rights to and then what
other rights that anyos had that they might be able

(02:27):
to sell as well. Yeah, but I just think it's
a bit of good news and good honor.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Good stuff. David, nice to talk to you appreciate it
very much. David Maffett foreman using in Rugby ceo bo
do you'll be driving a land Cruiser? Can I just
say it's just a personal opinion. They butchered that design wise,
the new land Cruiser absolutely butchered. I don't know who's
responsible for it. I don't know what they thought they
were doing at the time, but what they produced is visually,

(02:58):
to my eye unacceptable. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to News Talk SETB from six a m. Weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.