Nelson Mail

The Todd clause

New Zealand Rugby’s contentiou­s decision to stretch its eligibilit­y rules to allow Crusaders flanker Matt Todd to rejoin the All Blacks from Japan could have significan­t flow-on effects in years to come reports Richard Knowler.

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New Zealand Rugby’s decision to bend its eligibilit­y rule to allow Matt Todd to re-join the All Blacks could open the way for other Japan-based players to play test rugby.

Although openside flanker Todd is contracted to Japanese club Panasonic, meaning he should be off-limits to the All Blacks selectors, the NZ Rugby board took the extraordin­ary step of granting Todd an exemption to allow him to be included in the 51-man squad for the upcoming northern tour.

With Sam Cane unavailabl­e because of a fractured neck and Todd having relocated to Japan after helping the Crusaders win the Super Rugby final on August 4, the All Blacks were desperatel­y short of experience­d openside flankers outside of Ardie Savea.

Logic suggested NZ Rugby would tap-up Todd, who has made 14 test appearance­s since 2013.

But there was a huge snag. There was no out-clause in Todd’s contract, and, in any case, NZ Rugby has long preached that anyone not playing in New Zealand cannot expect to wear the black jersey.

This is where things get really interestin­g.

NZ Rugby, having sought approval from its board, opted to stick its neck out and fire out an SOS to Todd. Luckily for it, he answered the call and will join fellow opensiders Savea, Dalton Papalii, Dillon Hunt and Gareth Evans on tour.

Things could have been so much different if Panasonic general manager Hitoshi Iijima had elected to play hardball, and resisted NZ Rugby’s request by noting that Todd was contracted to his club.

Instead Panasonic, who did not ask for compensati­on despite being unable to call in a replacemen­t player because it’s too late to register a newcomer, did NZ Rugby a major favour by releasing Todd for a month; he we will stay with the All Blacks until after their fourth match against Ireland in Dublin.

It’s understood NZ Rugby also wanted Todd to stay for the tour finale against Italy in Rome, but the player wants to return to Japan to help Panasonic prepare for the Top League playoffs.

When NZ Rugby revealed Todd has been selected, it noted in its official press release that the board had recognised Todd’s long service and the fact he is contracted to New Zealand and the Crusaders next year.

But there was still potential for the situation to get very messy if Panasonic hadn’t been so helpful.

NZ Rugby could have forced Panasonic’s hand by exercising World Rugby’s regulation nine, something England did when it wanted Hurricanes captain Brad Shields for the series against South Africa in June.

That saga dragged on for several weeks with NZ Rugby eventually relenting and allowing Shields, who had already signed a deal to join English premiershi­p club Wasps after Super Rugby, to make his debut for England.

The irony is that Panasonic told NZ Rugby they were prepared to put an out-clause in Todd’s contract before he left for Japan, but declined it.

No doubt NZ Rugby hoped Todd wouldn’t leave, but he elected to exercise his right to go and therefore skip Canterbury’s Mitre 10 campaign.

In doing so Todd understood he was waiving his rights to represent the All Blacks.

‘‘When this opportunit­y came up, it was too good to turn down,’’ Todd said in July.

‘‘Having Robbie Deans there as a coach, he is obviously a Crusaders legend. He played a big part in it.

There is less of the unknown you are walking into, when you know the coach and you know the type of coach he is.’’

It remains to be seen whether Todd’s release to the All Blacks will have repercussi­ons for the Crusaders. Panasonic has being playing Todd on the understand­ing it would give him a break to refresh body and mind in November.

Now, because he has joined the All Blacks, he won’t have that break. This means that when he returns to New Zealand from Japan he could be expected to commit to a stand-down period – as part of the player welfare rule – which means the Crusaders could be without their key fetcher in the opening rounds of Super Rugby.

Now that NZ Rugby has broken its own eligibilit­y rule to allow Todd to rejoin the All Blacks, it could potentiall­y open the door for more Japan-based players to be eligible for test duty. Maybe not in the immediate future, but it has to be a considerat­ion in future years.

Examples of NZ Rugby selecting players registered with overseas clubs are rare.

In 2009 the NZ Rugby board granted Luke McAlister, who was playing for Sale in England, an exemption because Dan Carter was still recovering from the Achilles tendon he snapped playing for French club Perpignan.

That was a controvers­ial decision by NZ Rugby, and ultimately, resulted in an unsuccessf­ul transition for McAlister.

But the Japanese market could prove to be a boon for the game in New Zealand. The Todd situation could be a turning point.

With the pressure to retain All Blacks set to intensify, for example English premiershi­p clubs have a salary cap of around $14 million and can also select two marquee players outside of that bracket, NZ Rugby could use the Japanese market to help retain All Blacks by allowing key players to sign shortterm deals.

That would mean players could earn a healthy cash bonus, with clauses in their contracts allowing them to represent the All Blacks, and then return Down Under.

Kobe, for example, is a club NZ Rugby could potentiall­y form a lasting relationsh­ip with.

Already former All Blacks defence coach Wayne Smith is on its coaching staff. Former All Blacks Dan Carter and Andy Ellis, along with Highlander­s Richard Buckman and Tom Franklin – the latter duo will return to Super Rugby next year – are among a number of Kiwi players on the roster at Kobe.

The style of games in Japan continues to improve.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and NZ Rugby may take the view that Todd has simply been ‘‘on holiday’’ but many return from their Japanese experience saying they enjoy the fast-paced style of play that continues to be increasing­ly competitiv­e.

The Japanese market is not going to evaporate.

Given the financial pressures NZ Rugby is under, and the geographic­al isolation of this country, the pressure to retain players has never been so great.

The case of Todd being granted an exemption is a rare one. In time, that may no longer be the case.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Flanker Matt Todd will on the All Blacks northern tour reacquaint himself with the jersey he last wore against France in the third test at Dunedin in June.
GETTY IMAGES Flanker Matt Todd will on the All Blacks northern tour reacquaint himself with the jersey he last wore against France in the third test at Dunedin in June.

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