Kiwi fans are worried that Retallick's deal will set a worrying trend
For a long time, the dilemma faced by many All Blacks was choosing between playing for their country and opting for a move abroad.
The Japanese and European leagues offer much more money than New Zealand Rugby can, and the standard of rugby could be less demanding on a player’s body.
However, the lure of the legendary black jersey has kept many players in New Zealand, only to leave when their international days have expired. Usually after a World Cup, or a British and Irish Lions tour – as seen in 2017.
However, the Chiefs’ Brodie Retallick’s new deal could be the beginning of a new trend in New Zealand, whereby players can enjoy the best of both worlds.
The 28-year-old lock will play in Japan for two seasons after the World Cup, therefore missing two Super Rugby campaigns, before returning to New Zealand until 2023. This will make him ineligible to play for the All Blacks while in Japan but ensures he will be back in the Test shake-up following a two-season break.
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The 2014 World Player of the Year said: “I’ve decided to give my body a break from the New Zealand game so that ultimately I can extend my career here.”
This is a similar deal to what his All Blacks team-mate Sam Whitelock signed earlier this year, albeit Whitelock’s deal is shorter and he can still play for the All Blacks while abroad. Both players can effectively reap the rewards of playing in Japan while knowing they will return to the All Blacks.
While many fans on social media feel that Retallick deserves this deal, as he has been one of the best players in the world over the past five years, some feel that this is setting a worrying precedent.
This deal is a sign of the times – that the NZR can no longer retain their players and therefore has to agree to these sabbaticals to ensure the players return.
This is not a new thing in New Zealand. Dan Carter moved to French club Perpignan in 2008 for six months in a very similar deal, and many other players have taken short stints in Japan.
However, the way that Retallick’s deal has been phrased as if he were staying in New Zealand until 2023, has left some journalists in New Zealand questioning whether this can actually be seen as a win for New Zealand and Chiefs rugby as both sides will miss out on his services for two years.
With many All Blacks almost never playing Mitre 10 rugby, and some infrequently playing Super Rugby, some fans on Twitter sense that this is the start of a change in New Zealand rugby where their international players play elsewhere and only return for the All Blacks in a similar way to how the European leagues in football have all the world’s best players.
Ultimately, some feel that the NZR cannot compete with foreign clubs and are therefore becoming more lenient. This is what the fans have said:
https://twitter.com/JimKayes/status/1138596089185984513?s=20
Anyone who doubts that retention is getting more and more difficult each year for NZ Rugby needs look no further than this 👇sign of the times https://t.co/SiuyzJlLS9
— Liam Napier (@liamnapiernz) June 11, 2019
Sabaticals! The new way of keeping big names in the national set ups. Requires compromise, a well-communicated plan and a player+organization who's willing to honor their word. Here's to more. Will cricket catch on? https://t.co/dVtull3KP6
— Tom Dawson-Squibb (@TheSportingMind) June 12, 2019
I could see the All Blacks becoming the only team the top players play for, for sure. But I don't think the other levels will disappear, they'll become feeder leagues kinda like the D-League etc and you'll get the best players being picked up by the level above.
— Jeff Cheshire (@jeff_cheshire) June 12, 2019
Not really a deal with NZR is it, it’s a deal with Japan for two years.
— Simon Howard (@sihoward1) June 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/dbp_sydney/status/1138616933597601792?s=20
https://twitter.com/NZ_Dave/status/1138613858665320448?s=20
Retallick is part of a sizeable cohort of All Blacks that are moving abroad after the World Cup later this year, but the difference is that he – and Whitelock – have agreed to return.
In the long run, this deal may prove beneficial as it could well prolong the lock’s career. But in the meantime, the All Blacks – as will the Super Rugby franchises – will be going through a transitional phase with so many players gone.
WATCH: Episode six of Don’t Mess with Jim, the weekly RugbyPass series hosted by former Scotland international Hamilton
Comments on RugbyPass
Nice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
1 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments