The recent comments made by Ardie Savea, the 2023 World Rugby player of the year, have reignited the discussion surrounding eligibility regulations for the All Blacks. Savea has urged New Zealand Rugby to reconsider its policy regarding allowing All Blacks to compete in overseas leagues prior to their selection for the national team.
Presently, players must be under contract with one of the five New Zealand teams – the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, or the Highlanders – in order to be considered eligible for selection to the All Blacks. However, the newly appointed All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson, has expressed his support for potential changes, endorsing a more flexible approach within the New Zealand Rugby framework.
In response to these proposed modifications, concerns have been voiced by former All Blacks lock Dallas Seymour regarding the potential adverse effects on club rugby in New Zealand. Seymour, who represented the All Blacks in three tests and also participated in provincial competitions, is apprehensive about the repercussions that altering the eligibility laws could have on the local rugby landscape.
While acknowledging the current imperfections within the system, Seymour emphasises the significance of maintaining opportunities for top players to remain within New Zealand. He cites the example of James Lowe, a former Chiefs and Māori All Blacks representative who has since joined the Irish national team, as a case that has posed challenges for the provincial competition and raised questions about selecting players from overseas.
Seymour has also raised concerns about the potential impact on the club rugby scene and the established pathways from provincial rugby to the All Blacks, indicating that further discourse and deliberation may be necessary to fully evaluate the potential implications of any amendments to the eligibility regulations.
In support of revising the existing regulations, Savea has cited the example of the South African national team, the Springboks, where only 15 out of 233 players in the Rugby World Cup-winning squad were engaged in the domestic Currie Cup competition. According to Savea, South Africa has demonstrated that allowing players to compete offshore can be advantageous and contribute to success on the international stage.
Savea, who is currently on sabbatical from NZR and competing for the Kobe Steelers in Japan, has underscored the diverse and evolving nature of the global rugby landscape. He has noted that the opportunity to compete against players with diverse backgrounds and styles has been refreshing and enriching, offering a different experience from exclusively competing within New Zealand and against Australian teams.
The ongoing debate over the eligibility rules for the All Blacks embodies a broader ongoing discussion about the evolving dynamics of international rugby and the potential impact of allowing players to participate in overseas leagues. As New Zealand Rugby contemplates the calls for change, the viewpoints of former and current players, as well as the broader implications for the local rugby community, will undoubtedly be pivotal in shaping any revisions to the existing eligibility regulations.