Player retention battle wages on
CHRIS Lendrum might be New Zealand rugby’s most important man you’ve never heard of. And when he describes the market for elite Kiwi players as the most challenging it’s ever been, that should be enough to send a shiver down the spine of any All Blacks fan.
Lendrum’s official title at NZR is head of professional rugby, but his key role is leading the contracting team. A lawyer by trade, he’s the one doing the wheeling and dealing to keep New Zealand’s elite rugby talent strutting their stuff on these shores.
It is, you might have gathered, an increasingly difficult job. There is an inordinate amount of money being splashed around in France’s Top 14 for established New Zealand rugby players, and England and Japan are not far behind. Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also on the lookout for our best talent.
So far it’s a battle that Lendrum is winning on New Zealand rugby’s behalf, even if he does incur the odd casualty. But the war very much rages on.
Last year All Blacks coach Steve Hansen saw Malakai Fekitoa, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua and James Lowe depart these shores. Each one was a painful loss, in their own way.
They were all important men, both in terms of the depth in the national squad, but also as senior Super Rugby figures.
As Blues coach Tana Umaga laments, with the departure of so many experienced players, ‘‘24 is the new 30’’.
This year Lima Sopoaga, Liam Messam, Jerome Kaino, Charlie Ngatai and Brad Shields have all either signed deals, or are committed to.
Messam and Kaino are at the tail-end of outstanding international careers, but Sopoaga has been Hansen’s second-choice No 10 and Shields and Ngatai are quality players with plenty still to give. Their departures come with a sting in the tail.
For the most part Hansen and Lendrum keep the people they really want to keep. That is to say starting All Blacks who will form the foundation for the challenge at an historic third straight World Cup triumph.
Ben Smith was heavily pursued, but signed on. Kieran Read too. Beauden Barrett is going nowhere, nor Brodie Retallick. NZR has a finite amount of money in its retention chest, and it has learned to use it wisely.
New superstar wing Rieko Ioane and young back utility Damian McKenzie are the next players being targeted for longterm deals. They are the future of New Zealand rugby, and do not be surprised to see them being wheeled out soon as the latest to re-sign.
‘‘The reality is we are always going to provide players to the off- shore market,’’ Lendrum tells Sunday News. As Hansen wryly laments: ‘‘We have to develop four players: one for us, and one each for France, England and Japan.’’
Adds Lendrum: ‘‘At the moment it’s more challenging than I’ve ever seen it. People need to understand that and adjust their expectations. The market in France and the UK in particular is going through the roof.
‘‘We have to be constantly agile and rethinking what we’re doing . . . You ask yourself, ‘how good do you think we’ll be in 2027, if we’re still doing the same things we GETTY IMAGES were doing in ’07 and ’17?’ The answer for any business is you’ve got to constantly evolve and adapt.’’
That’s why NZR is looking at establishing relationships with clubs offshore, it’s why the sabbatical clause is what it is, it’s why you won’t see senior All Blacks rushed back from injury, or run into the ground through a season. NZ Rugby understands it needs to take great care of its players if it wants to keep them.
The power of the All Blacks jersey can only do so much.
‘‘We’re always trying new things,’’ adds Lendrum. ‘‘In the long-term you’ve got to keep challenging yourself. We’re really competitive, we offer a lot of money and a great environment, with the best coaches. That’s what we compete on and will continue to do that.
‘‘But it’s a constant battle. We’ll have some big wins again this year and we’ve got some good announcements coming. We’ll be all right, and it’s not panic stations. But it’s important for people to realise it’s as tough as it’s ever been.’’
Or as Hansen says: ‘‘We’re always going lose one or two we don’t want to lose; it’s when it gets to five or six it becomes a problem. We’re not at that point yet, and the lure of the jersey is still very strong.’’
‘ It’s important for people to realise it’s as tough as it’s ever been.’ NZR’S CHRIS LENDRUM