NZ Rugby chief backs rest policy
Mark Robinson tells David Long that it’s a juggling act to look after rugby players and fans.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has defended its policy of gradually reintroducing All Blacks at the start of a new Super Rugby season.
There has been the usual public angst about the restrictions put in place around All Blacks who played at last year’s World Cup in Japan, with many put on minute limitations for the first weeks of the season.
Former All Blacks Wyatt Crockett and Sir John Kirwan also questioned the policy this week, saying it was time to tear up the ‘‘load management policy’’.
Given Super Rugby is the country’s glamour competition, it can be frustrating for supporters to see stars sidelined, especially as NZ Rugby hypes up the start of the competition each year.
‘‘We know it’s a balancing act,’’ Robinson said
(ahead of the Crockett/Kirwan criticism) of the dilemma faced in giving fans what they want, but also protecting the players.
‘‘We know that fans want to see the best possible players playing as much rugby as they possibly can at any given time through the year.
‘‘But physically, in terms of the wellbeing of our athletes, that’s just not possible.
‘‘So we’ve had return to play protocols in place for some time now and we believe they work. If you look at the first weekend of Super Rugby, we had 16 of the All Blacks from the Rugby World Cup playing. It would have been 19 if the Highlanders had been playing.
‘‘We think that’s a pretty good representation across the board and when you also look at the amount of players who’ve retired or moved offshore, that’s a pretty high proportion of the overall available All Blacks that played.
‘‘We understand the frustration, but we’ve got a balancing act to make sure players’ careers in New Zealand are for as long as possible and we look after them. But also give the fans what they need, in terms of seeing our best players play as much as possible.’’
Mark Robinson
For Blues fans, there was potential frustration that on the same weekend they lost to the Chiefs, their new star signing No 10 was taking selfies of himself at the Super Bowl.
With Beauden Barrett away, Chiefs No 10 Aaron Cruden came to play, and ran amok.
Barrett may be entitled to his break in the new contract he signed, but it perhaps wasn’t a good look for him to be posting pictures of himself on social media having the time of his life while Blues fans brace themselves for yet another disappointing season.
‘‘We’ve signed Beauden now through to 2023,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘We feel and our contract model has shown in more recent times, the flexibility to recognise that long service.
‘‘He’s certainly a player in terms of length of service that and the quality of player he is, that he’s earned that right to have a bit of a break for this time. We’ve done it for other players and we’ve done it for some time now over the last eight or 10 years.
‘‘We feel it’s the best mix when you talk to our players about the environment we can provide around the quality of coaching, the way we balance their workload and the environments they participate in, that it’s quite critical to their long-term commitment to New Zealand rugby.’’
Super Rugby had its earliest start this year – in January. That attracted negative comments, but did result in exciting rugby.
‘‘The games were great,’’ Robinson said, speaking before this weekend’s action.
‘‘I’m probably a bit like others in that it still feels like summer time. But then you see the quality of rugby from the games played in New Zealand and they’re fast, skilful, outstanding games.
‘‘And reasonable crowds both, so well supported.’’
It may be hot for the players to be out there in January, but from many fans’ point of view, they’d rather watch Super Rugby on a balmy summer’s evening, than in the cold and rain in June.
‘‘Next year, the competition is pushed back a bit by going back to a 14-team round robin, so for the players and a lot of other people associated with the game, that’s a nice compromise in terms of start dates.’’
‘‘We understand the frustration, but we’ve got a balancing act to make sure players’ careers in NZ are for as long as possible.’’
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