New Zealand Rugby vetting plans scream of arrogance
With moves to the northern hemisphere confirmed for the likes of Brad Shields, Lima Sopoaga, Charlie Ngatai and Seta Tamanivalu, amongst others, in recent months, it has clearly prompted New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to act.
For some time now, New Zealand, as a nation, have been able to more efficiently retain their players than their fellow southern hemisphere rivals, Australia and South Africa, but with the ever-increasing wages of professional rugby players, that job is getting harder. The fear of an exodus has become real for the All Blacks.
Their response has been to propose a system whereby they will vet and pick preferred clubs in Europe and Japan for current or budding All Blacks to move to for a season or two, before returning to New Zealand and resuming their place at one of the Super Rugby franchises.
Considerations like playing style, coaching set-up and workload will be among the variables debated in this process. It is, in essence, an expansion of the sabbatical system which NZR have had in place for some time now, but with an attempt to have more control over the destination of the player.
It is hard not to see the benefits for the All Blacks here.
Why would you want to send a promising young player, perhaps on the cusp of international recognition, to a side that is going to play slow, attritional rugby for two years and then have them return with their conditioning shot to pieces and many of their skills blunted through lack of use?
Even acknowledging that and understanding that NZR aren’t going to do anything that’s not in their own interests, it still screams of arrogance.
From the implication that theirs is the only way to play and that any other kind of environment would see a player stop learning or even regress, to deeming certain clubs, over whom they have no jurisdiction or official relationship, worthier, is a horrible pill to swallow.
Then there is the impact on the northern hemisphere competitions to consider.
How will the French sides react if Kiwi players are actively told to avoid playing in the Top 14 due to the longer season? Or if Wasps, who it should be noted have just confirmed the arrivals of Shields and Sopoaga, are given preferential treatment over other English clubs?
God forbid NZR have any kind of ruling that Leinster is a more desirable destination than Munster and then push players down that route. There could be full-blown civil war in Ireland over that.
When Kiwi players leave New Zealand to go and play in Europe, NZR aren’t paying their wages. This isn’t some kindly benefactor loaning players to a team and wanting a say in how they continue to be developed, this is a player emigrating, moving to a new country, having their wages paid in full by their new club and no longer having an affiliation with NZR.
The model that NZR runs in New Zealand, all the way from schools rugby and the Mitre 10 Cup up to Super Rugby and the All Blacks, is exceptional. It works, and the All Blacks are the most adept rugby-playing side in the world. No one who has watched rugby over the last few years would dispute that.
At the borders of New Zealand, however, is where NZR’s jurisdiction ends.
The northern hemisphere may have been in the shadow of the southern for most of the professional era, but that is fast changing. England and Ireland are undoubtedly the two key challengers to New Zealand’s dominance of the international game and though Australia showed a brief resurgence midway through 2017, both South Africa and Argentina would struggle in the Six Nations, and the stock of both Wales and Scotland seems to be rising swiftly above them both.
There is plenty for Kiwi players to learn and improve on in the northern hemisphere and having the NZR guide them to clubs that look to mirror the All Blacks as closely as possible, is short-sighted.
The rest of the world has benefited from the intellectual property of Kiwi coaches moving abroad but the tables are beginning to turn somewhat, as there are certainly now lessons to be learned in Europe that could benefit rugby in New Zealand.
New Zealand may be the best Test side in the world, but they are not the moral guardians of the game, nor are they in charge of dictating how the game should be played.
The beauty of rugby is that it’s a game where matches can be won in so many different ways and there is no one ‘correct’ way of playing.
Don’t deny Kiwi players the opportunity to experience something different and broaden their horizons.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to comments