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'They've got plenty of dough': New Zealand Rugby stars name the European clubs they would 'love' to join

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

When it comes to choosing an overseas club to play for at a certain point in a player’s career, there are no shortage of options for those based in New Zealand.

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Players from across the country have departed for offshore clubs in their droves since the dawn of professionalism, with the riches on offer in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and Japan often far better than the pay packages available in New Zealand.

For Crusaders and North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall, though, it’s the title-winning success that has become synonymous with Saracens over the past decade that has made the London club the overseas team he would like to join the most.

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Speaking to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, the Maori All Blacks representative revealed that interactions with Saracens stars during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown was enough to sway him in favour of the five-time English and three-time European champions.

“I’d love to go to Saracens,” Hall said when asked what overseas club he would like to play for if the opportunity presented itself.

During the COVID break, we were actually pretty lucky to actually talk to the Saracens boys and had some Zoom calls with them.”

Seemingly unfazed by Saracens’ salary cap scandal that has seen them relegated to the RFU Championship for the 2020-21 season, Hall suggested he was eager to continue the title-winning run he’s enjoyed since joining the Crusaders three years ago.

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“I see that team, they’ve got a lot of success around them, some quality players there, so if it was in Europe, Saracens would be a pretty cool spot.”

By comparison, Hall’s North Harbour teammate James Parsons said if he was to head overseas, he would like to play at a club that features a number of his former Blues teammates.

The veteran hooker pinpointed Premiership club Bristol Bears as one of his preferred destinations due to the presence of ex-Blues personnel such as utility back Charles Piutau, loose forward Steven Luatua, prop John Afoa, lock Chris Vui and director of rugby Pat Lam.

“I’d absolutely love to go join my Blues alumni at Bristol,” Parsons said. “They look like they have plenty of fun when they play.

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“They’ve got plenty of dough. It’s all spent, though, so I’ll be going for nothing, but yeah, that looks like a bit of fun.”

The two-test All Black added that there are a couple of other clubs that have piqued his interest, noting that a move to France holds particular intrigue.

“[Former England loose forward] Thomas Waldrom told me Exeter Chiefs is a hell of a lot of fun and they’ve got a great environment and, from what I can see, Jerome [Kaino] and Charlie [Faumuina] and Pita Ahki are loving Toulouse,” Parsons said.

“I think anywhere in France would be pretty cool. I think it would be pretty cool experiencing their culture and the way they do things over there. Obviously they love a scrum, so that suits me.”

While the idea of playing in France appeals to Parsons, Hall seemed more reluctant on plying his trade in the Top 14 due to the language barrier that would come with moving to a non-English-speaking country.

The 28-year-old said his role as a halfback is heavily dependant on communication, which would prove to be difficult as he isn’t able to speak French.

“I’d find it [in] France… being a halfback and game management is massive, and communication is massive. I think going to France, it would be an awesome lifestyle experience, I reckon, but… I’d have to learn French.”

Parsons, however, urged Hall to reconsider his stance on the matter, saying that learning the language and understanding the culture is all part of the experience of playing in a foreign country.

He highlighted former All Blacks playmaker Luke McAlister, who spent seven years playing for Toulouse, Toulon and Clermont, as an example of someone who flourished both on and off the field during their time in France.

“I think that’s what it’s about. You sort of look at the players that have immersed themselves in the culture, became long lost sons of the place, look at Luke McAlister,” Parsons said. “He was over there for a number of years, he’s speaking fluent [French]. 

“I think that’s part of the experience, learning the language and the culture and just going all in. No point going over there half-arsed, Bryn. Get into that culture, mate.”

Find the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod on all good podcast streaming services or listen to the episode below:

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Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 7 hours 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.

30 Go to comments
A
Adrian 9 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

30 Go to comments
T
Trevor 12 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.

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