Why All Blacks hopeful has ‘no regrets about signing overseas’
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
TRY OF THE WEEK | Super Rugby Aotearoa Final
Chiefs’ Alex Nankivell with the razzle dazzle!#TryOfTheWeek #SuperRugbyAotearoa pic.twitter.com/fCBRq4NswZ
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 11, 2021
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments