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S Liam Napier.
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‘‘If a player makes a decision to go, having been fully aware of all the information and spoken to everyone, and in a way where the key people do not feel the agent has unduly influenced the player because they get a better fee on the overseas deal, then no-one is really going to complain.
‘‘For the agency representing Steven Luatua, Dan Carter or Colin Slade they got a bigger fee for their player moving offshore – there’s no doubt about it. But the most important thing is the player made the decision on the merits of where they wanted to be, as opposed to being encouraged to go down that path. You talk to any of those players and they will all tell you it was their call.’’
Clearly, communication lines are vital. But not all players want to engage with coaches and NZ Rugby for fear of being pressured or talked around. That was true for talented All Blacks midfielder Richard Kahui when he left for Japan in 2013. Kahui was 27 at the time and wanted to preserve his body. The fallout from his decision was significant, and his is not an isolated case.
AN ALL BLACK PERSPECTIVE
When All Blacks and Blues flanker Jerome Kaino opted to take a threeyear deal in Japan after the 2011 World Cup he surprised many, leaving at the peak of his powers. Kaino bucked the trend to return home in 2014 and now stresses the importance of players grabbing the reins.
‘‘We’ve always got an uphill battle because the money overseas and the clubs are always going to be using that as their pulling power,’’ Kaino said.
‘‘My agent’s focus was to make sure whatever I wanted he accommodated to. He wasn’t trying to ship me off to get more money. It was about what was best for me and my family. I don’t know how other agents do things but it’s important to make sure the player is in control.
‘‘I’m not too sure if the younger players are aware but I make sure I’m over everything that happens – what they get and what I get in terms of representing me.
‘‘A lot of education has to go into the player knowing what happens during their negotiations and how it benefits other people around them.
‘‘It’s always going to be a winwin for the players and agents if they do go overseas in terms of money. Staying here the positive is the All Black jersey. In most cases that’s enough, but there’s another bracket of guys where it’s not and it’s a no-brainer to look overseas.
‘‘It’s that bracket of players the agents are going to try push overseas because it’s a lose-lose situation if they stay here.’’
KEEPING NZ RUGBY INFORMED
New Zealand player agents are a small pool, with just 11 accredited and three provisionally accredited, compared to about 80 in Australia, where they collect up to 7 percent on all local player contracts.
New Zealand’s accredited agents sign up to a charter, governed by the NZ Players’ Association (NZPA), and must come through a vetting process which includes an GETTY IMAGES interview with NZ head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum, employment lawyer Don McKinnon and members of the NZPA.
‘‘We’re really lucky here in New Zealand,’’ Lendrum said. ‘‘As a general rule our agents are very good at keeping NZ Rugby informed.
‘‘We’ve always had a small number of established agents and as a result we’ve all worked together for a very long time. We’ve got relationships that stand apart from an individual player. By and large the information we share is good and the vast majority of the processes are positive.’’
THE RISK FACTOR
Given the clear incentives involved by signing a player abroad, the agent industry relies on good ethics, integrity and discipline not to be influenced by what you stand to earn.
With so much at stake players can be easily persuaded. Had the pressure been put on All Blacks fullback and Highlanders captain Ben Smith last October to make a decision about his future, his agent says he would have gone to France.
Instead Smith was told to take his time and, after a 10-week break in Wanaka with his family, he made a complete u-turn, committing through to 2020.
With so few operators the hope is the industry largely regulates itself, but concerns remain around impressionable young players. Accredited agents wanting to sign athletes under 21 must first notify the NZPA.
‘‘That still remains a risk,’’ Lendrum said. ‘‘A number of agents have been uncomfortable about the movement and thrust of the game towards contracting younger and younger players. As governing bodies, provincial and Super clubs explore that, naturally agents have to follow as it’s important those players are getting proper advice.’’
New Zealand rugby’s status is such that players, young and old, will continue to be picked off by foreign clubs seeking to improve their fortunes.
As it stands what keeps the system working is trust: that every decision is being made with the players’ best interests at heart. But with so much to be gained from overseas deals, that trust is always going to be tested.