Brisbane Global Tens organisers have expressed surprise over New Zealand Rugby's reported refusal to allow All Blacks stars playing in the inaugural competition.
At least 10 current All Blacks were set to play in the pre-Super Rugby tournament, including fullback Israel Dagg, who is an ambassador alongside Wallabies pin-up Israel Folau.
But Dagg and his Kiwi teammates' involvement is in doubt, with NZ Rugby obliged under the players' collective bargaining agreement to provide them with a 12-week break from the game.
The tournament, to be held at Suncorp Stadium on February 11-12, is set to fall too soon since the All Blacks' last European tour match against France on November 27.
In a move that could threaten the inaugural tournament's star power, franchises have been instructed by NZ Rugby not to make players available, the New Zealand Herald reports.
It would rule out headline acts such as Dagg, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara and Jerome Kaino.
The New Zealand Rugby Union Players Association said there were never any promises about All Blacks' availability.
"It was known right from the outset that All Blacks that were on the end of year tour ... there'd be no obligation on them to play," NZRUPA chief executive Rob Nichols told the NZ Herald.
"They'd only play if everyone agreed, i.e. New Zealand Rugby, the players, the franchises.
"That 12 weeks a year is very, very important and that overrides everything."
Brisbane Tens organisers Duco Events said All Blacks players who toured Europe at the end of last year had been included in club's provisional squads, including contracted ambassadors.
"We have received the provisional squads from competing teams and can confirm that those submitted by the New Zealand Super clubs contain 10 players who participated in last year's All Blacks end of season European tour, including the tournament's contracted ambassadors," Duco Australia chief executive Rachael Carroll said in a statement.
"These players have indicated a strong desire to play in the tournament and their Super Rugby clubs have selected them.
"We are negotiating with New Zealand Rugby in good faith to confirm these selections."
Duco Events, the creators of the NRL's successful Auckland Nines, secured strong Queensland government support to hold the tournament.All 10 Australian and NZ Super Rugby franchises - plus French glamour club Toulon, Japanese powerhouse Panasonic Wild Knights, South Africa's Blue Bulls and the Samoan national team - are locked in for the two-day tournament.
AAP