New Zealand's rugby landscape is facing a seismic shift, with a slew of top-tier talent gearing up to depart for greener pastures post the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. The iconic Steve Hansen, a former All Blacks helmsman, has chimed in on this trend, which he views as an inevitable facet of today's game.
Hansen, in a candid chat on the DSPN Podcast with Martin Devlin, didn’t mince words about the current state of affairs.
"Well, we have to understand and accept that’s what could happen because it is happening. So, it’s a reality,"
he asserted. The exodus isn't minor, with stars like Mark Tele’a, Tom Christie, and Sam Gilbert already out the door, and Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Hoskins Sotutu poised to follow suit.
While the lure of lucrative contracts overseas is potent, Hansen remains philosophical about the future.
"What are we going to do about it? We’ve just got to make sure that we keep developing enough players for our own market as well."
His solution? Bolstering the nation’s rugby development programs to ensure a continuous supply of talent capable of donning the black jersey.
Hansen highlighted a critical need for improvement in how New Zealand nurtures its young talent. "The train will stop if we don’t keep working hard underneath it," he noted, emphasizing the importance of providing young players with compelling reasons to stay. "Young people need to know that they’ve got a chance; otherwise, they’ll take the other chances that they’re being offered."
Creating an environment that players are eager to be part of is essential, according to Hansen. "We’ve got to make it an environment where everyone wants to be in it, and they’ll stay and fight for it," he remarked. For Hansen, it's about elevating the allure of the All Blacks jersey and making the prospect of playing for New Zealand an exhilarating endeavor that rivals any overseas offer.
As New Zealand rugby grapples with these challenges, the focus is clear: innovate or risk stagnation. Hansen’s insights not only shed light on the immediate issues but also chart a course for sustaining long-term excellence in Kiwi rugby.
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New Zealand's rugby landscape is facing a seismic shift, with a slew of top-tier talent gearing up to depart for greener pastures post the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. The iconic Steve Hansen, a former All Blacks helmsman, has chimed in on this trend, which he views as an inevitable facet of today's game.
Hansen, in a candid chat on the DSPN Podcast with Martin Devlin, didn’t mince words about the current state of affairs.
"Well, we have to understand and accept that’s what could happen because it is happening. So, it’s a reality,"
he asserted. The exodus isn't minor, with stars like Mark Tele’a, Tom Christie, and Sam Gilbert already out the door, and Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Hoskins Sotutu poised to follow suit.While the lure of lucrative contracts overseas is potent, Hansen remains philosophical about the future.
"What are we going to do about it? We’ve just got to make sure that we keep developing enough players for our own market as well."
His solution? Bolstering the nation’s rugby development programs to ensure a continuous supply of talent capable of donning the black jersey.Hansen highlighted a critical need for improvement in how New Zealand nurtures its young talent. "The train will stop if we don’t keep working hard underneath it," he noted, emphasizing the importance of providing young players with compelling reasons to stay. "Young people need to know that they’ve got a chance; otherwise, they’ll take the other chances that they’re being offered."
Creating an environment that players are eager to be part of is essential, according to Hansen. "We’ve got to make it an environment where everyone wants to be in it, and they’ll stay and fight for it," he remarked. For Hansen, it's about elevating the allure of the All Blacks jersey and making the prospect of playing for New Zealand an exhilarating endeavor that rivals any overseas offer.
As New Zealand rugby grapples with these challenges, the focus is clear: innovate or risk stagnation. Hansen’s insights not only shed light on the immediate issues but also chart a course for sustaining long-term excellence in Kiwi rugby.