Leader of the pack: Kieran Read's salary is set to break the $1m mark but his fellow All Blacks will also be much better off over the next three years.

He leads the way on the field and now All Blacks captain Kieran Read is set to break the $1 million salary mark after New Zealand Rugby revealed a major pay rise for its players.

NZR and the Players' Association announced details of the new collective agreement on Wednesday. The big news was an increase of $70 million in the player payment pool from $121m to $191m over the next three years.

Off contract in 2017, Read is poised to sign a new deal through to the 2019 World Cup. When all on-field contributions are taken into account it is understood he will crack the $1 million salary barrier for the first time.

PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Kieran Read is far from alone in getting a pay rise after $24.8m was set aside for top-up payments.

While retired All Blacks greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are understood to have earned more than $1m previously, they did so with endorsements and sponsorship packages included. Read will reach $1m before those add-ons are considered.

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GETTY IMAGES New Zealand rugby players have received a big pay rise in the latest collective agreement.

The significant boost comes on the back of increased broadcast and sponsorship revenue, and projected earnings from next year's lucrative British and Irish Lions excursion, which could see the national body clear as much as $40m from the 10-match tour.

"We're really pleased to be in a position where the game has grown its revenue overall," NZR contracts manager Chris Lendrum said. "This collective was about delivering to the players their fair share of that money because they've been so important earning it and then determining what the most efficient way to spend all that money was."

Read is far from alone in getting a pay rise after $24.8m was set aside for top-up payments - those that sit outside Super Rugby and provincial earnings - in the fight to retain New Zealand's best 40 players. That's an $8.9m increase on the last collective.

GETTY IMAGES Brodie Retallick is thought to be on in excess of $800,000 annually.

Brodie Retallick and Julian Savea are thought to be on in excess of $800,000 annually, while Dane Coles, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and Owen Franks, who is understood to have re-signed, also committed their long-term futures to NZ Rugby this year. Extra funds, with player revenue-sharing retained at 36.5 per cent, can only help persuade others - Israel Dagg, Ben Smith and Aaron Cruden - to potentially follow suit.

"We've historically been pretty competitive at the top end of the market," Lendrum said. "The money is enough combined with the package of being an All Black and the benefits that come with that but certainly this gives us more flexibility to have more players at a higher point than we've ever had.

"It's already come into play with the decisions of some of the senior players over the past 12 months. We're in a position where we can offer considerably more for those players than the equivalent point four or five years ago and that's making life a lot easier for us at that level. But there are still challenges and one or two of those players may still go. That's just the way it is for us."

Other key initiatives aimed at retention include incentive payments for long-serving Super Rugby and provincial players who hang around and help groom the next generation. Funding for this scheme has increased by $6.1 million ($3.7m to $9.8m). Payments at the high end include a one-off $35,000 cheque for players with five or more years Super Rugby experience; the likes of a Nasi Manu or Tanerau Latimer would fall into this bracket.

"They might be looking at anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent increase in total payment levels," Lendrum said. "We think that makes us more competitive probably with the English market but to a lesser extent Japan, Ireland and France. That's always a moving feast.

"The agreement is not a silver bullet in terms of player retention and we don't pretend that to be the case. But a big goal for us was to have experienced Super Rugby players stay for a year or two more."

A new savings scheme has also been allocated $9.3m. Combined with KiwiSaver, around 240 players are expected to save $20m over the next three years. Half the individual funds are able to be withdrawn at ages 34 and 40 to help transition into retirement.

Key points of the agreement :

* $24.8m set aside for top up payments in the fight to retain All Blacks - an increase on the $15.9m set aside in the last collective

* Super Rugby budgets boosted by $650,000 per year to $4.65m per franchise

* Incentive payments for long-serving players - a one-off $35,000 cheque for those who have played five years or more and stay to play provincial rugby

* $9-10 million set aside for new savings scheme to help transition players into retirement

* Introduction of an illicit drug education and awareness programme, designed to support player health and well-being;



* Compulsory induction programme requiring players to undergo a number of modules including respect and inclusiveness, player conduct, mental health and wellness, anti-doping, wagering and corruption and concussion management