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Why All Blacks hopeful has ‘no regrets about signing overseas’

By Finn Morton
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

For young rugby players growing up in New Zealand, the childhood dream of one day running out in the iconic black jersey is fuelled by passion, belief and commitment.

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Becoming an All Black means joining an exclusive list of New Zealanders who have been fortunate enough to represent the rugby-mad nation on the international stage.

Chiefs midfielder Alex Nankivell shared the dream with many of his countrymen growing up, but is prepared to walk away from it at the end of the year.

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Nankivell has starred at Super Rugby Pacific level over the last couple of seasons in particular, and has been called up to representative level with the Maori All Blacks and All Blacks XV throughout his career.

But, at least so far, the All Blacks dream continues to allude the 26-year-old – and time is running out.

Nankivell is a talented player, and is both reliable in defence and lethal in attack. But the midfielder has signed a contract with Irish club Munster, and will leave New Zealand after this year’s World Cup.

The Chiefs confirmed in February that the outside centre had penned a deal with the famous Irish club, and Clayton McMillan added that it was “never ideal” to lose someone of Nankivell’s quality.

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But the papers have been signed, and the next chapter in Alex Nankivell’s career awaits.

“I’ve got no regrets about signing overseas,” Nankivell told RugbyPass. “I think last year, if I was going to make the ABs, it would have been that year.

“I feel like I’ve given it enough of a crack the last two years and I feel like I’ve played some decent rugby

“It kind of gets to a stage where, how long do you keep staying around fighting for that dream where you’re getting older and older, you might pick up and injury.

“Then the opportunity overseas, the window to actually play for a few years and play some decent rugby while you still can I guess gets smaller and smaller.”

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At just 26 years of age, and with so much growth left in the New Zealanders game, this decision may have come as a shock to some within the rugby community.

Nankivell is a player on the rise, but is eager to spread his wings and soak up everything that the sport has to offer abroad.

“The opportunity go overseas for rugby players is huge and I guess it’s a different environment, different culture, and they play different rugby over there,” he added.

“For myself, it’s a challenge more than anything to go over there and grow as a player and grow as a person. I’ve always wanted to do that.

“Travel and things like that, it’s a lot easier. You’re playing in South Africa one week and Scotland (or) Italy the next.

“For my age, I’m 26 turning 27, I’m a really competitive guy and for me I don’t want to finish rugby playing in New Zealand and then go over and clip a ticket.

“I want to go over and contribute to another team and (get) fully amongst the team that I’m playing for.

“I can’t just go over and clip a ticket, a want to be involved in the week-to-week in that team’s performance.

“Just with the ABs stuff, obviously my dream is to be an All Black and that window is only open for so long. I think just timing wise, I think it’s a good time for me to go post-World Cup.

“Obviously my goal this year is still to try and push into that side and whatever happens will happen there.”

But even if the All Blacks door closes for Nankivell later this year, that’s not to say that another might not open over in Ireland.

When Nankivell put pen to paper with the Thomond Park-based club, he didn’t consider the possibility of playing for the world’s no. 1 ranked side sometime in the future.

“I honestly didn’t think about that when I signed, it was more ‘go play for Munster.’

“Thinking about it now, five years because I’ve got no grandparents or anything or parents that have Irish heritage, I think it’s too far back, so it’d be the old five years play.

“By then I’ll be, far out 31, so I’d probably be pretty broken by then to be honest but never say never, we’ll see what happens.”

Nankivell has played 10 matches for the high-flying Chiefs this season, and started eight of those at outside centre.

But in a big blow for both Nankivell and the Chiefs, the midfielder has been ruled out of this weekend’s quarter-final with an injury.

The Chiefs are set to host the Queensland Reds at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium 4.35pm NZST on Saturday.

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j
john 30 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.

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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
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