NZ begins hunt for foreign talent
1 Jul 2010
New Zealand’s Super 15 franchises will expand their squads to accommodate two foreign players in 2011.
According to reports, a new employment agreement was signed by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the association representing the country’s professional players on Thursday. The result is that foreign players are now eligible for the five Kiwi franchises.
The five teams will expand their squads from 28 to between 30 and 32 players which will allow them to accommodate two players from overseas. All recruitment will have to meet specific criteria and have the NZRU’s approval.
23 Comments
1 Jul 2010, 12:16 pm
This crack will widen.
1 Jul 2010, 12:42 pm
Who’s paying?
1 Jul 2010, 13:05 pm
The Wallabies introduced something similar. Hence David Hill, Andre Pretorius, Ben Castle, Daniel Braid and the like went over.
I think the Kiwis have far more depth, and wont even make use of this system.
Except that is, if Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga players count as “foreign”….
1 Jul 2010, 13:31 pm
@Cheetah Champs(Cheetha Champs)-3: The perceived depth of the Kiwis may be shallower than most think…
1 Jul 2010, 13:38 pm
From this move it would appear that NZ are indeed worried about the amount of depth they have. The move by the Aussies was in relation to the same problem. If everyone is do damn concerned about their depth, why on earth do they keep expanding the super rugby competition? It makes no sense on any level except a commercial one. Cons – lack of depth for expansion teams, decrease in quality of rugby, increased game time resulting in increased player fatigue, overkill of rugby to viewing public.
Pros – another xxxmillion dollars in the coffers of SARU due to broadcasting rights and sponsorships. Its not a new problem, the pro leagues in most US sports suffer the same problems but again, marketing and sponsorships override the obvious deficiencies of the systems.
1 Jul 2010, 14:03 pm
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-4: One look at their U21 side, the Maori side, and the NZ Barbarian side, and i would disagree.
Kiwis have plenty plenty of depth.
1 Jul 2010, 14:07 pm
This is part of the deal to get the Argies in.
Great news, lets liven things up.
1 Jul 2010, 14:49 pm
i hope some team buys January
1 Jul 2010, 15:02 pm
@rugby_only(rugby_only)-8: earl rose & isma-eel dollie to the Crusaders
1 Jul 2010, 15:45 pm
9. Transformation(Transformation) :
HAHAHHAHAHAH
8. rugby_only(rugby_only) :
HAHAHAH – poor January really is getting stick. I don’t think he is as bad as most you you think. Anyway…
classic
1 Jul 2010, 17:24 pm
NZ have a clear policy. Well done. Ours on the other hand changes almost weekly, and we have more than one policy at a time to suit the whims of our selectors.
1 Jul 2010, 17:29 pm
Please buy Chiliboy! I heard your quotas are lopsided.
1 Jul 2010, 17:48 pm
@sglazer(sglazer)-11: what policy are you whinging about now? You’re such a moan-gat
1 Jul 2010, 18:54 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-13: Are you expecting to have a conversation with me?
1 Jul 2010, 22:14 pm
“Foreign” in this context means NZ players playing in the Northern Hemisphere.
1 Jul 2010, 22:36 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-15: your statement makes no sense.
1 Jul 2010, 22:51 pm
@mamma_lou(mamma_lou)-16:
Foreign Pacific Island players are not foreign to New Zealand in a foreign sort of way.
Hope that makes sense!!
1 Jul 2010, 23:30 pm
@chockstar(chockstar)-5: what are you talking about? This has nothing to do with lack of depth. I have a friend in the NZRFU who told me that this move was to allow a couple of argies who want to play in super 15 since they will be joining us in 2012. The NZRFU are only interested in the argies, cause we have to make them ready for the speed and skill of the tri nations other wise they’ll end up being the Itlians of the tri nations but worse.
1 Jul 2010, 23:51 pm
I think this has something to do with accomodating the Argies, and not trying to boost NZ depth (Their depth is pretty good at the moment anyway!)
“All recruitment will have to meet specific criteria and have the NZRU’s approval.”
So JC, what are the specific criteria? Did you even try to find out or do you think that an eight sentence copy was sufficient for Keo’s high standards of journalism?
2 Jul 2010, 03:25 am
yeah the tri-nations have to start thinking of a way for all 3 countries to start accomodating the argies in our teams. that said, NZ new policy would be really helpful in getting some of those islanders over for them
2 Jul 2010, 08:17 am
@Kiwisamoan(Kiwisamoan)-18: Yeah right. Ill believe that when the NZ teams each announce their two new Argentinian signings. If they are from any other nationality your argument is bollocks.
2 Jul 2010, 08:20 am
@flanka(flanka)-20: I dont disagree with this comment. Including Argentinians in the super 14 is a good idea, it just remains to be seen whether this move by the NZRU is designed to achieve that and whether the pro teams adopt it instead of using their new freedom to sign players from other nationalities. And come on, be honest now can any of you honestly say the expanding of the super 14 has improved the quality of rugby we are seeing as I stated in my first post?
3 Jul 2010, 02:22 am
@sglazer(sglazer)-11:
You appear to have been invaded by a bodysnatcher.
Truly. Why have you suddenly become ´reasonable´ via application of logic these past 2 weeks ?!
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