Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The future of Rugby scouting? New Zealand's first NFL-style pro combine

By RugbyPass
The future of rugby scouting? New Zealand's first 'pro combine' will be held in late November. (Photos/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s player depth is the envy of the world, with a seemingly endless supply of players coming off the production line.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is no better illustrated by the fact that a second-string All Blacks team, albeit still one with plenty of test match experience, played Japan and beat them by 69-31. Maybe most telling was some of the best performers of the test were debutants like winger George Bridge.

So just how deep does that talent pool run? And how much of it is left untapped?

That’s the question that ex-All Black Murray Mexted is looking to answer, with the country’s first Pro-Player Combine to be held in late November at his International Rugby Academy of New Zealand, also known as IRANZ.

Mexted explained that differences in identification techniques used by each region can lead to players falling through the cracks.

“The various provincial systems and Academies here in New Zealand each have their own approaches to recruiting and developing talent. This is very rarely at the benefit of all players,” he explained.

“There is a surplus of talented players here in New Zealand, capable of playing at a higher level but failing to get their ‘big break’.

Although New Zealand has five successful Super Rugby franchises, the size of each region’s pool of players is different, leading to imbalances in player stocks.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Blues and the Hurricanes have the biggest population bases to work with, while the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders all have to scour the market to fill needs. The Blues and Hurricanes are geared toward ‘retention’ while the other three are active recruiters.

Even so, the recruitment strategies differ, the Chiefs and Crusaders will invest early in outside talent and develop them in their own system, while the Highlanders exclusively buy the ‘off the shelf’ finished product, most likely players from Mitre 10 Cup coming through other academies or established Super Rugby players.

There are also only so many places to fill in an academy annual intake, with on average 8-10 development contracts handed out per Provincial Union.

Those that get early investment from a Union are far more likely to receive more opportunities moving forward, and no doubt a good development system will make them better players too.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, those overlooked that might possess equal talent are failing to get the development they need during that pivotal development age of 17-20, with their chances of making professional rugby suffering as a result.

“Their development is suffering; stuck behind other players gaining selection or winning the starting jersey in representative teams,” says Mexted.

The IRANZ Pro-Player Combine is designed to give those players a second chance, to get in front of decision-makers for another look.

“The Pro-Player Combine provides talented players an opportunity to benchmark themselves against the current standards required of professional players – not just physically, but also in the mental, technical and tactical areas – and those specific to their position.”

“Ultimately the Combine will provide players an independent avenue to gain exposure, and receive a qualified assessment of their current ability and capacity to achieve a professional career as a player.”

IRANZ is confident that gems will eventually be uncovered, having seen first-hand unheralded players come through their courses onto higher honours.

Loosehead prop Haereiti Hetet came through earlier this year as a fringe provincial player and then earned a contract with Waikato, featuring in five games for the Mooloo men in their Mitre 10 Cup Championship run.

The combine is open to both New Zealand and Overseas residents but applicants will go through a vetting process.

A collection of New Zealand’s best-unsigned talent could also attract the attention of overseas clubs and scouts if the Combine is successful in gaining momentum.

It is easy to see how demand for such a venture would assist those in the search of young talent. What better place to look than in New Zealand.

The first Pro-Player Combine will run at IRANZ from November 29 to December 1, 2018. For more information visit IRANZ here

 

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

j
john 29 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'I didn't think it would happen this early': Carbery on Munster exit 'I didn't think it would happen this early': Carbery on Munster exit
Search