Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
I figured it was something like that, that seems like a strange policy. If they're good enough to make the team who cares where they ply their trade?
|
There's a few reasons that the NZRU maintains it's stance:
- The chance to play for the All Blacks is leverage to keep players in NZ, keep talent in Super Rugby, and keep crowds coming to games.
- The NZRU can't compete financially with Europe or Japan. It would open the floodgates for a talent exodus.
- Logistics. Overseas clubs would own the player, and make it difficult for players to be released for international games. And the NZRU carefully manage the workloads and physical/mental state of players in the system, this is out of their control for players overseas.
The argument is that the system enables New Zealand to stay at the top of the game.