Dan Carter
Whilst South Africans might admire the fact that New Zealand Rugby has successfully retained Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and soon to be confirmed, Sonny Bill Williams post Rugby World Cup 2011, there are some who believe the All Blacks have ‘sold their soul’.
The significance of these signings and what it will mean to All Black rugby cannot be overstated enough. With so many names from all three SANZAR countries already confirmed to move to Europe following the World Cup, the future of the game in the Southern Hemisphere and its ability to hold onto the big names will again become the focus point in 2012.
The third name expected to be announced by New Zealand Rugby to continue his career in New Zealand post RWC 2011, is Sonny Bill Williams.
Williams has taken the rugby world by storm since his return to union and his native country New Zealand, with his impact on the game of union being compared to that of Jonah Lomu in 1995. Such is the nature of his, and Carter, McCaw’s appeal in union, that they can basically pick their club and price anywhere in the world should they want to.
It is because of this very fact that the coup New Zealand rugby scored convincing these players to stay in New Zealand rather than chase the dollars, that is at the center of the controversy.
Unable to compete financially with European clubs, the NZRU had to make ‘special’ amendments to the contracts of these top players. It is known that Carter, as part of the conditions of his contract, may take a sabbatical of 1 year at any time of his 4-year contract with the NZRU. It is a condition that will no doubt find its way into McCaw’s contract and should also be extended to Sonny Bill Williams.
But there are some people who believe that these ‘special conditions’ or ‘flexibility’ afforded to these players should never even have been considered.
Essentially what this means for New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks, is that these players can head off to Europe for a year, earn top dollar for doing so, and still be eligible to play for the All Blacks. Concerns of a possible division within the All Black camp due to special treatment of some players have been raised, as-well as those questioning the financial impact this could have on New Zealand rugby.
The one thing New Zealand and South African rugby has always been able to do, is produce brilliant rugby talent, and the fear in New Zealand rugby is because of the length of Carter’s contract (4 years), it might discourage young flyhalf talent to remain in New Zealand and that the money spent to retain these players, should rather be used at grass-roots level to develop new Carter’s or McCaw’s.
New Zealand Rugby has been unshakeable in their stance of not allowing any overseas based player to represent the All Blacks, a belief that the ‘brand’ All Blacks, is enough to retain quality players. It is of course a stance that ensures that the game locally and at lower levels remains at a high standard and supported by the public who wants to see their heroes play for clubs and franchises in competitions like the Air New Zealand Cup (NZ equivalent of the Currie Cup) and of course, Super Rugby.
The question is; ‘Has New Zealand finally sold its soul, or are they showing the rest of the SANZAR partners the way forward?’
