We can’t stop ABs exodus: World Rugby

CEO tells New Zealand it’s on its own

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper admits there’s not much they can do to prevent New Zealand’s top players leaving for greater riches in the northern hemisphere.

Since the beginning of 2017, the likes of Aaron Cruden (Montpellier), Steve Luatua (Bristol), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (La Rochelle) and Malakai Fekitoa (Toulon) – all in their 20s – have been lost to the All Blacks to big-spending French or English clubs, who continue to trumpet the capture of talented Kiwis as marquee signings.

Lima Sopoaga (Wasps), Charlie Ngatai (Lyon), Liam Messam (Toulon) and Seta Tamanivalu (Bordeaux) have all in the last month announced they will also be joining the exodus of New Zealanders, who are not guaranteed a regular starting position in the All Blacks, to jump at lucrative offers from Europe.

Gosper said there would always be players from Australia and New Zealand willing to sacrifice representing their national team because of the attraction of significantly higher salaries in the northern game.

‘‘There’s not a lot we can do about that at World Rugby,’’ he said. ‘‘There are very strong market forces [in Europe], but it’s up to the local unions to try and make it as attractive as possible for those players to stay.’’

The All Blacks don’t consider players for selection if they’re plying their trade overseas.

Gosper met with the respective rugby unions in Australia and New Zealand in the last week while attending legs of the World Sevens Series in Sydney and Hamilton.

He said he was sure there was concern from both unions across either side of the Tasman.

‘‘There’s a little bit of imbalance happening and there is an attraction of big dollars, in particular in France, and to a certain extent Japan.

‘‘The All Blacks have been very strong in keeping their players.

‘‘Their brand and business has mainly kept players but there will always be a player that will head north because he or she is happy to find riches elsewhere.’’

The All Blacks are mainly losing players on the fringe of the starting 23, but the departure of Cruden and Sopoaga means they’re not blessed with the kind of depth they would like at first five-eighth.

Both Cruden and Sopoaga have chosen to cash in with two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett firmly established at No 10 for the All Blacks since Dan Carter’s retirement in 2015.

Gosper was adamant that the number of players choosing club over country wasn’t damaging the international game – yet.

‘‘We’ll have to monitor that reality to see over the coming years if the international game has to adjust in anyway,’’ he said.

‘‘For now, there is no damage to the international game, as far as I’m concerned.’’

Meanwhile, Gosper, visiting Hamilton for the first time, said there was a strong chance of the sevens staying in Waikato beyond its two-year contract for 2018 and 2019.

Hamilton sold out both days of this year’s event and it’s the first time New Zealand’s leg of the World Series has been hosted outside of Wellington

‘‘My first impression has been wonderful,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been very positive, the field is amazing, it’s a great site for the tournament, and organisers seem to have gone out of their way to make the players happy.’’

There are very strong market forces [in Europe], but it’s up to the local unions to try and make it as attractive as possible for those players to stay. Brett Gosper