One of the richest men in world rugby wants to invest in New Zealand.
Montpellier billionaire Mohed Altrad has expressed an interest in New Zealand rugby, opening the door to the national body to potentially form further relationships in the Northern Hemisphere, or to a Super Rugby club keen on extracting extra, valuable revenue.
Altrad is valued by Forbes at a net worth of US$2.5 billion (NZ$3.8b). He was also ranked third on a list of most influential figures by British magazine Rugby World last month, first registering on the radar after bailing out the south of France club in 2011.
Since then, he is understood to have invested €20 million ($35m).
According to its annual report, last year alone the global Altrad Group, which now works primarily in the oil and gas industry after starting out in scaffolding, turned over €3.4 billion ($6b).
From a rugby perspective, Altrad lured successful New Zealand coach Vern Cotter and former All Blacks first five-eighth Aaron Cruden to Montpellier last season, both on annual salaries well in excess of $1m. The ambitious club lost last year's Top 14 final after leading the competition at the end of the regular season.
In an interview with the Weekend Herald, Altrad has now expressed a desire to strike a deal with NZ Rugby.
"If I can find some sort of interest in a club in New Zealand then, yes, I will do it," Altrad said.
Last year Altrad's attempt to buy a 45 per cent stake in Gloucester was knocked back by England's Premiership Rugby. Had the sale gone through, Altrad later revealed he planned to invest £10m ($19.5m).
"Unfortunately that was rejected, not for rational reasons but because some English and French clubs didn't like that Montpellier would have more solutions than themselves," Altrad said. "In the New Zealand case we would not have the same objections because we are not playing in the same competition so there is no reason for that not to happen, provided we have some shared interest such as medical jokers, academy, and whatever we can put together. I can envision this."
by NZ Herald.co.nz
