The message from grassroots rugby to the professional players is clear - get onboard with the Silver Lake deal.
All 26 unions and the Māori Rugby Board approved plans to sell a 12.5 percent stake in New Zealand Rugby's commercial rights to US equity firm Silver Lake.
The deal is worth more than $380 million. But the deal is still not complete, because the professional players are blocking it. And mediation is at a stale mate.
Bridget Belsham is the CEO of Wanganui Rugby and Group chair of heartland rugby.
She says they like what they see and that's why they're for it - boots and all.
