Players heading overseas whats all the fuss?

Question

in recent weeks we have read and watched reports of top New Zealand Rugby players heading overseas to ply their trade. Are we not the best rugby producing nation in the world. Why all the fuss surely there is enough talent here to fill the ranks. all comments welcome..

Answer 1

If you look at the English premier football league 10 years ago, they where attracting big name players, who whilst still good where probably not at their peak any more, but the fans wanted to see them all the same, since then the premiership has become so successful that now the best players in the world are being attracted to the clubs, again because its what the fan demand

The Guinness premiership is now at the stage the prem league was say 10 years ago, that is successful, and attracting some big name players, probably no longer at their peak but still outstanding players, and this is improving the game and drawing bigger crowds, and as with soccer the fans will start to want the best of the best at the clubs and as NZ has alot of the best they are going to be recruited and its hard to see what the NZRU will be able to do to counter it, because you can see that the European clubs want to build a league in rugby as successful as the premiership and they will have the funds to do it

Answer 2

Two problems with greedy players are using the AB jersey to make more money. This takes a wealth of experience that NZ rugby has passed on to them leaving a substandard competition and youngsters having no idols to look up to. In turn as is happening fans are staying away which in turn makes sponsors think twice about sponsorship which dents our ability to produce up and coming players.

With so many NZ players in Europe this erodes the local talent so then international rugby is weakened hence rugby league with no real competition to OZ. English club sport is very strong look at Soccer,League both have club teams that dominate their sports, how often does OZ win the world club challenge?. Man U and Chelsea are playing the champions league final but when they play international neither can compete with other teams as most players are ineligible to play for England.

Answer 3

There shouldnt be any fuss, these players have put in the hard yards to get to where they are with great sacrifice to be some of the best players in the world. unfortunately with the game being as physical as it is they only have a relatively short window of time to profit from this hard work. One bad hit in a game and thier career and earning potential can be finished. I say go for it guys and good luck, show the northern hemisphere how rugby should be played!

Answer 4

i think the fuss is over the fact that since the new zealand players are leaving that that is a sign that the new zealand rugby teams are soon to be losing the spot of dominance in the rugby world.

Answer 5

well i think its the NZ boards problem because the way it pays from  union instead of the club therefor you find english or french clubs paying more for a better player instead a price payed by the union which might not be the price the player would want.

Answer 6

Skill or experience?

Who cares..... we definitely have the depth in Talent and experience some people are only focusing on top players there are plenty out there with lots of experience they're just not in the media spotlight as often as others.........Talent also..

just recently watched a crusaders match 3rd choice and young 1st 5 hamish Gard slotted in like he'd been there all along,,,,,, Now, Thats 3rd choice for Canterbury Imagine what he is in new Zealand ranks..... witht that talent and hes still a hop and step away from the ABs, Cleary depth in talent.

Answer 7

its just that (i heard) all blacks players need to play in the super 14. If they don't they aren't eligible to play for the all blacks

also fans will miss seeing their fans closer to home like new zealand fans love this guy (lets call him Mr. X) cuz he scores tries all the time ....... anyways, they get to see him play at christchurch all the time, maybe sometimes he'll be in AUS or SA for competitions. but whatever, at least he'll play a  lot in NZ

then he goes to europe to play, fans never get to see him live anymore, he'll be playing in Cardiff, paris, london...whatever

but then, he's not coming back to NZ for any games anytime soon.

Answer 8

ITS AL ABOUT INTER.. XPRENCE DEA IS ALOT OF TALENTS BUT NO XPRENCE. eg. NZRU STIL TRYIN 2 FIND ANADA TNA UMAGA. DA PROB IS NZRU INVESTS MORE ON TRAININ INDIVIDUAL AB PLAYERS IN DEA PRO POSITION TO BCOM DA BEST IN DA WORLD eg.UMAGA, N DEI DON DO IT 4 EVERY AB PROSPECTS DAT IS AL DA FUS IS AL ABOUT, BCOS DA NZRU KNOW DAT WEN DIS GANG LIV DEI  WIL SPREAD WAT DEI HAV BIN TOT BY NZRU, DAT IS Y AB R LOSING WORLD CUPS. BCOS ADA COUNTRIES R BUYING AB PLAYERS 4 LARG SUMS OF MONEY TO  LEARN DEA TRADE N USE IT AGAINST D AB'S IN TEST MATCHES. BUT D WALLABIES GROOM DEA YOUNGER ONES  2 RPLACE OLDER ONES, N DEA GAME PLAN CHANGES EVERY CSON NEVER MIND WIN OR LOSE IN DAT CSON

Answer 9

Problem is we can't compete with the money overseas, owing to our small population and limited financial resources. A player is always going to be able to make more in Europe. On top of that, the natural desire that kiwis have to get out and mix it in the wide world at some point in their lives; why not do it while they are still young and energetic and unencumbered with family and career commitments. Hence the attraction.

The problem is that NZ rugby has always been strong because of the strength of our domestic competitions and the passion of our people for the game. These are both affected by quality players leaving. Sure there's talent coming through but part of learning any sport is learning on the go from older players who have experienced most of what their sport can throw at them.

That's what the fuss is.

However is there a solution? Perhaps it's just an inevitable path for sport in an increasingly commercialised and financial-dependant world. As a small country we can't compete with the big nations economically; despite all our talent, other countries have plenty of talented sportspeople too and with better resources have the potential to surpass us and maintain it, despite all our passion.

I don't like it, it may sound morbid even, but it could unfortunately be reality.

Answer 10

its not the lack of skill, its the lack of experience at that level we're worried about. International rugby is so much more intense than any other level of the game. Its a huge step that players from Super 14 or whatever just aren't ready for, thats why there are so many players with less than five caps.  

The problem is that, being a kiwi myself, the New Zealand public is WAY too critical of their teams.  Why stay in New Zealand, where everything you do is held under a magnifying glass and you get paid nothing compared to the rest of the rugby playing world, (English clubs have an average salary of GBP65,000 and the average S14 wage is NZ$60,000).

The solution is easy, we simply can't compare with the anonyminity that the UK or france offers (New Zealanders aren't going to change) and we will never have the money to compete with the Heineken Cup. We just need to allow selection of NZers who aren't based in New Zealand.  England does it, so does Argentina, France and South Africa. Why are we holding out?

Answer 11

I reckon we'll still have heaps of up and coming rugby players that can fill in the spots left by the leavers. That's one thing we'll not run out of , rugby players. As for people leaving , good on them , they'v done us proud, now it's time to stash up for a rainy day.