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A stampede of Super Rugby players have headed north during the Super Rugby off season.
There is no reason for this trend to stop in the near future – the pay gap is just too big. French and English clubs with huge pots of TV money at their disposal will continue to import the best southern hemisphere talent available.
The goal is to have the best league competition in the world. Both the French and English competitions are desperate to import the talent that will place them on par with Super Rugby. Every year the gap is narrowing and the rugby is becoming more entertaining.
Traditionally the allure of playing for your country has held the best of southern hemisphere players in Super Rugby. Previously you saw predominantly veteran players heading overseas to cash in during their twilight years, as is understandable.
Not anymore.
Imagine achieving that goal of playing a Test match for your country. Of course there are trophies to be won but you are young and have plenty of time (so you think). Then an agent representing a team based beautiful town in the French countryside, offering triple your current pay and a chance to play European Cup rugby. What would you do?
A two-year contract is not forever and international travel will make you windswept and interesting!
The powerhouse southern rugby nations have a big problem on their hands.
South Africa were the first to crack, allowing foreign based players to also represent their country.
Australia introduced the ‘Giteau Law’ earlier this year so that Matt Giteau could be brought into the Wallabies squad for the World Cup. Drew Mitchell also benefited from the rule change. The law states if you have played 60+ Tests for Australia then you are permitted to ply your trade overseas and still be picked in the national squad.
New Zealand have yet to break, desperately trying to hold on to their beloved ‘All Black’ culture. How long this can remain the status quo will be interesting to watch. The international retirement of several big name players (including Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith) along with some of the up coming talent being poach will test the administration.
| Name | 2015 Club | 2015-16 Club |
| Nic White | Brumbies | Montpellier |
| Jesse Mogg | Brumbies | Montpellier |
| Wilhelm Steenkamp | Force | Brive |
| Zack Holmes | Force | La Rochelle |
| Paul Alo-Emile | Rebels | Stade Français |
| Telusa Veainu | Rebels | Leicester Tigers |
| James Horwill | Reds | Harlequins |
| Will Genia | Reds | Stade Français |
| Quade Cooper | Reds | Toulon |
| James O’Connor | Reds | Toulon |
| Lachlan Turner | Reds | Toulon |
| Sekope Kepu | Waratahs | Bordeaux |
| Brendan McKibbin | Waratahs | London Irish |
| Adam Ashley-Cooper | Waratahs | Bordeaux |
| Peter Betham | Waratahs | Leicester Tigers |
| Taqele Naiyaravoro | Waratahs | Glasgow Warriors |
| Luke Braid | Blues | Bordeaux |
| Brendon O’Connor | Blues | Leicester Tigers |
| Francis Saili | Blues | Munster |
| Frank Halai | Blues | Wasps |
| Charles Piutau | Blues | Wasps |
| Ben Tameifuna | Chiefs | Racing 92 |
| Ross Filipo | Chiefs | Racing 92 |
| Hosea Gear | Chiefs | Clermont |
| Dan Carter | Crusaders | Racing 92 |
| Colin Slade | Crusaders | Pau |
| Tom Taylor | Crusaders | Toulon |
| Ben Franks | Hurricanes | London Irish |
| Jeremy Thrush | Hurricanes | Gloucester |
| Ma’a Nonu | Hurricanes | Toulon |
| Conrad Smith | Hurricanes | Pau |
| Victor Matfield | Bulls | Northampton Saints |
| Flip van der Merwe | Bulls | Clermont |
| Jacques du Plessis | Bulls | Montpellier |
| Montpellier | Cheetahs | Toulon |
| Jannie du Plessis | Sharks | Montpellier |
| Matt Stevens | Sharks | Toulon |
| Bismarck du Plessis | Sharks | Montpellier |
| Mouritz Botha | Sharks | Newcastle Falcons |
| Willem Alberts | Sharks | Stade Français |
| François Steyn | Sharks | Montpellier |
| Steven Kitshoff | Stormers | Bordeaux |
| Manuel Carizza | Stormers | Racing 92 |
| Michael Rhodes | Stormers | Saracens |
| Duane Vermeulen | Stormers | Toulon |
| Jean de Villiers | Stormers | Leicester Tigers |
Of course there is the benefit of being able to develop more young talent to replace those leaving, along with the probable diminishing power of both French and English national teams as their home born players have less opportunity to play top class rugby.
However the loss of established players will hurt international rugby unless rules are changed to enhance the chances of the best players representing their countries. If New Zealand and Australia continue not to pick overseas players then gradually both teams will look and play like the West Indies cricket team. Second string players representing their country while the first class talent plays in leagues for the cash.
As both Australia and New Zealand lack the resources to compete in the international market they need to find another way to keep their talent motivated to play in their national colours. Loyalty is a word from a bygone era. It is not that the players lack loyalty when they are at a club, it’s just that loyalty to one club for a career is no longer the main consideration. Clubs think the same and player movement is no longer an issue.
Maybe World Rugby could organise a new international tournament that can be played two years after every World Cup so that the four-year cycle is broken in half. A tournament that will capture the imagination of players so that they will stay focused on playing for their country.
Give the tournament a funky name like the International Champions Cup and play it in the June-July international window before a shortened Rugby Championship. The tournament to be played in the southern hemisphere in large stadiums with a revenue sharing deal in place so no nation will lose out.
To alleviate player burnout concerns cap the amount of games an individual player can start per season, including for their clubs (like the French do now and the New Zealand set up rest their core players for four matches during the Super Rugby season).
Imagine the top four Six Nations teams (from the year before as this needs time for the nations to organise), the four Rugby Championship teams and four invited nations from around the world playing in four groups of three teams. You could have one team from each of the Six Nations, Rugby Championship and invited nation in each group.
Top team from each group plays the semi-final. The other eight nations play for a lesser Plate or Shield, whatever you want to call it.
The winner of the tournament grabs headlines and feels like a king while four rugby-playing nations experience world class competition that they previously would not have had the chance to receive.
I’m getting excited just writing about it!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.