Wellington (AFP) - New Zealand Rugby was seeking urgent answers Wednesday from All Blacks shirt sponsor Altrad after the owner of the French construction company received a suspended prison sentence in France.
Altrad has sponsored the shirts of New Zealand's men and women teams since August in a six-year deal.
Altrad's billionaire owner, Mohed Altrad, was given an 18-month suspended sentence on Tuesday over irregularities in a sponsorship deal he did with the French national side.
"We will be reconvening with representatives from the company immediately, as well as with our key stakeholders," said a New Zealand Rugby spokesman.
"We have been in discussions on the possibility of this outcome for some time."
French rugby is reeling after federation president Bernard Laporte received a two-year suspended prison sentence on corruption charges relating to the Altrad case.
France will host the Rugby World Cup next year.
