In the wake of New Zealand Rugby's recent struggles, Sir Graham Henry has proposed an intriguing solution to revamp the All Blacks' selection criteria. With the national team's performance waning, Henry suggests that New Zealanders playing overseas should remain eligible for All Blacks selection, a policy shift aimed at bolstering the squad with globally seasoned players.
During a candid discussion on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, Henry articulated his vision, emphasizing the benefits of international exposure for players. "My solution would be that we allow All Blacks to play overseas. There will be some criteria there, but I think the criteria needs to be reasonably flexible, maybe 20 Tests," Henry proposed. He highlighted the case of Jordie Barrett, whose stint at Leinster proved invaluable not just to his game, but to his personal development as well.
"What that does is it develops your rugby players. Look at Jordie Barrett. Jordie Barrett had a year at Leinster, and that year helped him immensely, not only as a rugby player but as a person, I would say. His influence on the Hurricanes right now is considerable, I would imagine."
Henry believes that this approach not only enhances player skills but also enriches their personal growth, making them more worldly and confident—traits that are indispensable on the international stage. This model has been successfully implemented by South Africa, a point not lost on Henry. "Get real, they are the best team in the world by a considerable margin, and most of their international players play overseas," he noted, suggesting that New Zealand could learn from the Springboks' playbook.
Amid these discussions, the former NZ Rugby chair Brent Impey voiced concerns about the economic viability of expanding the number of Super Rugby teams and adjusting player eligibility rules. Impey revealed, "There has been no pay increase for New Zealand Super players since, I think, 2016 or 2017 and that’s because there’s just not the money there." He also highlighted the challenges of maintaining financial stability while trying to enhance the competitive edge of New Zealand rugby.
Despite financial hurdles, both Henry and Impey agree that more game time for players is essential. Impey stressed the importance of this for younger players, who often miss out on critical match experience. "We tend to pick 38 players plus 12 trainee players. One of the problems in New Zealand Rugby is that those young players aren’t playing enough and they’re really holding tackle bags," he lamented.
The conversation between these rugby stalwarts underscores a pivotal moment for New Zealand Rugby. As they navigate through financial constraints and competitive pressures, the insights from seasoned personalities like Sir Graham Henry and Brent Impey could pave the way for a reinvigorated All Blacks team, ready to reclaim their dominant stature on the world stage.
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In the wake of New Zealand Rugby's recent struggles, Sir Graham Henry has proposed an intriguing solution to revamp the All Blacks' selection criteria. With the national team's performance waning, Henry suggests that New Zealanders playing overseas should remain eligible for All Blacks selection, a policy shift aimed at bolstering the squad with globally seasoned players.
During a candid discussion on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, Henry articulated his vision, emphasizing the benefits of international exposure for players. "My solution would be that we allow All Blacks to play overseas. There will be some criteria there, but I think the criteria needs to be reasonably flexible, maybe 20 Tests," Henry proposed. He highlighted the case of Jordie Barrett, whose stint at Leinster proved invaluable not just to his game, but to his personal development as well.
"What that does is it develops your rugby players. Look at Jordie Barrett. Jordie Barrett had a year at Leinster, and that year helped him immensely, not only as a rugby player but as a person, I would say. His influence on the Hurricanes right now is considerable, I would imagine."
Henry believes that this approach not only enhances player skills but also enriches their personal growth, making them more worldly and confident—traits that are indispensable on the international stage. This model has been successfully implemented by South Africa, a point not lost on Henry. "Get real, they are the best team in the world by a considerable margin, and most of their international players play overseas," he noted, suggesting that New Zealand could learn from the Springboks' playbook.
Amid these discussions, the former NZ Rugby chair Brent Impey voiced concerns about the economic viability of expanding the number of Super Rugby teams and adjusting player eligibility rules. Impey revealed, "There has been no pay increase for New Zealand Super players since, I think, 2016 or 2017 and that’s because there’s just not the money there." He also highlighted the challenges of maintaining financial stability while trying to enhance the competitive edge of New Zealand rugby.
Despite financial hurdles, both Henry and Impey agree that more game time for players is essential. Impey stressed the importance of this for younger players, who often miss out on critical match experience. "We tend to pick 38 players plus 12 trainee players. One of the problems in New Zealand Rugby is that those young players aren’t playing enough and they’re really holding tackle bags," he lamented.
The conversation between these rugby stalwarts underscores a pivotal moment for New Zealand Rugby. As they navigate through financial constraints and competitive pressures, the insights from seasoned personalities like Sir Graham Henry and Brent Impey could pave the way for a reinvigorated All Blacks team, ready to reclaim their dominant stature on the world stage.