ABs off overseas younger
Lima Sopoaga’s shock exit from New Zealand Rugby has highlighted an already known problem – the All Black jersey is struggling to keep young players at home.
Since 2007, nearly half of the All Blacks (29 out of 60) who left for a bigger pay packet to European clubs have been 28 or younger.
While many All Blacks are spending their twilight playing years in the south of France to help with the retirement fund, players with just over 20 All Black test caps are now taking that same option midway through their careers.
Midfielder Malakai Fekitoa,
25, departs after 24 tests while halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow,
26, has played 27 tests.
New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Rob Nichol acknowledges this may be the case, but said NZRPA and New Zealand Rugby are working to make this decision more difficult for those considering overseas contracts.
‘‘There are two ways you can look at that. There is of course age, but then there is how much rugby have they already played?
‘‘Lima was in the environment very early and he has had to work hard and it didn’t come to him easily,’’ Nichol said.
While Sopoaga will only be 27 when he leaves for English premiership club Wasps, at the end of this year, he has been part of Super Rugby since he was 19.
Sopoaga is at the peak of his career, having made his debut for the All Blacks two years ago and has just solidified his spot as All Black first-five back up to Beauden Barrett.
Sopoaga has played 16 tests for the All Blacks, since his debut against South Africa in 2015, and a lack of game time no doubt swayed his decision to leave New Zealand.
Of the players that have left midway through their careers, most have been backup players to those in key positions such as Dan Carter, Barrett, Ben Smith and Aaron Smith.
For example Sopoaga, KerrBarlow, Stephen Donald, Colin Slade, Luke McAlister and Tom Taylor all left before turning 29. Now the highest paid rugby player in the world, Charles Piutau was only 23 when he called it quits on the All Blacks.
Nichol said NZRPA’s measure of success in retaining players was not about how many All Black caps a player had, or if they are seeing their career out with the All Blacks like Richie McCaw who played his last match in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
‘‘When there is no certainty around an All Blacks spot, players do think of themselves. The commitment required to get into these world cup squads is not 98 per cent, it’s that brutal.’’
‘‘Not everyone gets a cap, they are not easy to get. This is not just about retaining the All Blacks.’’
Sopoaga will not be the last on the growing list, however Nichol believes New Zealand Rugby and the NZRPA player retention rate is healthy.