New side won’t yet tie players to NZR
New Zealand Rugby’s unveiling of the new second-tier All Blacks XV drew mixed responses earlier this week, but one of the major concerns has been answered — for now, at least.
The announcement of the All Blacks XV saw some pundits view the new squad as an extra carrot to dangle in front of developing players to keep them in the country and groom them for greater things. Others questioned the watering-down of the All Blacks brand — which already includes the national side, the Maori All Blacks and the All Blacks Sevens sides — and whether the new team was simply a commercial exercise that will also prevent foreign sides from benefiting from New Zealandproduced players.
The bigger concern, especially from non-New Zealanders, is how the new side could affect players who leave the country but still want to play international football for another national side for which they qualify.
In the past, several players who had brief All Blacks careers, or moved overseas, such as Charles Piutau, voiced their wish to change their eligibility to another nation, only to be permanently tied to New Zealand. That issue would grow if several fringe players, with potential ambitions to represent an Island nation, were tied to the All Blacks after playing for a second-tier side.
Each national union can nominate a second side to capture player eligibility. For some years, New Zealand operated a New Zealand A side (which later was rebranded to the Junior All Blacks) which would tie players to New Zealand for the international game. That side hasn’t played for more than 10 years.
The new All Blacks XV will likely replace the Junior All Blacks as New Zealand’s second team and capture players’ eligibility in the future — which could harm Pacific Island and other foreign nations.
However, it is understood the new side won’t tie players to New Zealand, at least in 2020.
Under the World Rugby regulations, a nation can, on an annual basis, change their second nominated side. The NZR have not elected to make this change, at least for 2020, which means any players who represent the All Blacks XV this season will still be able to play for a foreign nation in the future.
Whether this is intentional on NZR’s behalf or the union simply ran out of time to make the change is unknown. It’s also unknown whether the All Blacks XV will become New Zealand’s next senior representative team in the future or if the (effectively non-existent) Junior All Blacks will continue to hold that mantle.
This will come as a relief to many as it will mean players who never quite reach the heights of running out for the All Blacks will still have the opportunity to play for another national side down the line.