Pete Samu

NZR asking $50k for Samu: report

The Samu saga took an intriguing twist late on Thursday when NZ Rugby said it would allow Crusaders loose forward Samu to be temporarily released from his NZR contract to play for Australia in the three-Test series in June but with conditions on it.

NZR refused to disclose the conditions, but The Daily Telegraph are reporting NZR are asking for $50,000 and that their Australian counterparts are unlikely to agree to the deal.

NZR hold Cheika in limbo over Samu

There are five uncapped players in Cheika's 33-man squad but Samu who signed with a two-year deal with the Brumbies this week isn't one of them.

Rugby Australia had submitted an official request to New Zealand Rugby for the release of the Australian born Samu but approval was yet to come through.

While World Rugby's regulations force the release of players for Test duty in June, there is a sub-clause that allows unions to deny such requests when the player holds dual eligibility.