Harlequins can be ABs’ club of choice: Fitzy
The All Blacks legend at the centre of New Zealand Rugby’s groundbreaking arrangement with London’s Harlequins club believes Kiwi players will reap the rewards from strategic stints in the English game.
London-based former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick played a key role in getting the trailblazing deal over the line as a member of the board at Harlequins, and in an exclusive interview with the StarTimes he spelt out what he saw as clear benefits for both sides.
NZ Rugby recently announced a ‘‘co-operation agreement’’ with London’s famous Premiership club to establish ‘‘strategic links’’ on the field and in the boardrooms.
NZ Rugby chief Steve Tew hailed the deal as a ‘‘unique relationship’’ that would open useful connections in the north and described the alignment between the two adidas-backed entities as a ‘‘natural fit’’.
Fitzpatrick, who was a young hooker for the 1987 World Cupwinning All Blacks and led the 1996 ‘‘Incomparables’’ to their historic series victory in South Africa, hailed the deal as a barriersmashing leap forward.
‘‘I was talking to [England World Cup winner] Will Greenwood about it and we were saying it’s almost the maturing of our sport, bringing the barriers crashing down,’’ said Fitzpatrick. ‘‘By New Zealand players coming to this part of the world on a controlled basis and British players going to New Zealand, it can only be good for the global game.
‘‘It’s creating a pathway for New Zealand players and also for young aspiring English players. There’s history in that in terms of Martin Johnson as a young player who went to New Zealand, gained huge experience and then brought that knowledge back here.
‘‘The number of friends I’ve sent to Murray Mexted’s international rugby academy, and the mums have to go down there and literally drag them out of New Zealand because they’ve loved the experience so much.’’
The All Blacks legend said the Kiwi game would also benefit by Harlequins becoming the preferred destination of the NZ Rugby-approved sabbatical
‘‘Quins are not going to all of a sudden have 15 All Blacks playing for them. That’s not what this is about. It’s having a place where players feel comfortable, where they’re going to be commercially contracted, and maybe for their sabbatical that’s where they’re steered, so they can be looked after, nurtured and they know it’s an environment in line with what New Zealand rugby is about.’’
Fitzpatrick said it was naive to think a stint in the English game could not benefit New Zealand players in the formative stages of a career.
‘‘Ask [former All Black prop] Craig Dowd the benefit he got from playing rugby in the UK. He wished he’d come here as a younger player to learn his trade.
‘‘For me as a young All Black to have access to the top hookers in this part of the world and learn from the best, bloody hell, I’d jump at it.
‘‘It’s the maturing process as a young professional sport and hopefully we can lead the way for the world here.’’
Fitzpatrick said this type of arrangement would only enhance New Zealand’s position as the leaders of the professional game.
‘‘It’s an innovative way to have a footprint. Sure we’re the best team in the world, and have led the world for years. But the way the world is developing , what we were doing yesterday is not going to be good enough to win tomorrow.
‘‘In terms of innovations, in terms of what Steve Tew and the guys are thinking long-term commercially, what better base in this part of the world? To have a training facility here, an innovation centre, and somewhere they can base themselves, as a team and commercially when they’re in this part world, it’s important.’’
But Fitzpatrick did make assurances on one important issue.
‘‘There will be no sharing of IP (intellectual property) ... this is a business built on performance and we’re not going to go sharing ideas. But in terms of creating pathways for women and young aspiring international rugby players, it’s a great thing.’’