Retallick, Savea sign long-term NZ deals

we didnt have an exodus after the 2011 WC so this is acceptable was watching rugby wth my eight year old and he kept asking if these new players would make the ABs. so i explained to him what positions they played and who would be leaving and i'm quite excited now to see who will be next years ABs. gonna be awesome. some serious talent coming out of NZ

I hear hes in talks with the Chiefs.

I agree in principle with your last 2 paragraph comments to expand teams in each conference. I'm quite sure NZRU could do this (choose up to 8 teams) and be competitive across the paddock such is the depth of players available. I think SARU would have no trouble meeting up to 8 teams also but in both cases, it will require some new rules to allow a draft-like spread of top players across all teams. In the end, it will be reliant upon whether ARU can rustle up the player depth to provide up to 8 teams so the NRC, is but a stepping stone toward achieving that prospect. Possibly each conference then plays it's own in-house round (1 match against each other) to choose the top 2 sides to play a round robin competition against each other. Altogether, that's about 12 matches in total for the teams that make the final rounds. Alternatively, allow a 2 round local conference competition to choose each conference winner to play each other once, for an overall SANZAR winner. It is an extreme proposal (hence my agreement in principle) but it could help to minimise the impact of NH clubs purchasing players from SANZAR countries. Any suggestion is better than none - it becomes a matter of how much each nation wants to protect and retain its players especially, its top-line players. You are correct in one respect - there is a distinct lack of pro-teams down south to keep players. Could an answer be that simple??

You may be right in the end but the important aspect to remember is the more choices provides a greater competitive edge to those who eventually succeed. At this stage, it is simply a matter of choices to see who will have the edge when it matters.

It is actually the first time we have heard of such an announcement. I have been saying for a long time that SANZAR nations need to sign players to longer contracts. Four years is certainly a good start. Going further, all players who will wear the All Black jersey this year should be offered 4-5 year contracts at varying dollar amounts depending on their status. Top Super Rugby players should also be renewed for no less than 4 years from now on. If these players decide early that they want to play in the Northern Hemisphere they can negotiate a contract release on mutually agreeable terms. It will stem the tide of good players leaving. On the other hand there is a problem that the production line of SANZAR talent is simply too great to sustain only 6 Super Rugby teams each and Super Rugby must expand to 8 or 10 teams in each country by 2020 in order for new talents to be able to stay in the SANZAR region. At the moment there just are no places for them to play. This would of course necessitate doing something with Super rugby such as making two divisions, or two conferences or making it into a champions league. But the flow of players is not just about money but also a simple lack of pro teams available in the South.

Cane, Barret and Smith are must signs guys like Ardie Savea n co need to earn that investment first, there are plenty who have looked a sure thing only to fizzle out at the very top.

Piutau was a real loss but from what I heard the money he was offered was insane. My thinking is that he will look to return after cashing in but that's a risky strategy as someone else comes along.

Good take on the subject...first time "another four years" is a good thing... :-)

The lure of an Olympic gold seems to be helping with retention somewhat.

Good news! Though not necessarily for us 'Canes supporters next year, with the likes of Barrett, Savea & Vito telling Sir Gordon they're available for the 7's next year.

I like how Richard Graham's stock photo always has him looking awkwardly at the floor.

Another player to watch out for in the Chiefs under 20's is Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi...currently playing half back he has crisp pass & very quick 10.8 secs over a 100m and only 20. Was very impressive in the games for the NZ under 20's on the Gold Coast.

Tevita Li shouldn't be anywhere near an All Blacks jersey he isn't worthy of it yet and Luatua has been average this season hes never really struck me as an All Black id rather have one of the young up and comers over him anyday of the week

Yeah Piutau could have been the dealbreaker if it set a precedent- a very good fringe AB for $3mill was it?, lord knows what Retallick and Savea would have commended with their ages and status, so good to see these sorts of players showing that level of loyalty...my faith in mankind restored after all. Fan...tas...tic...!!!

Hahahahaha, now PeterK that was funny! It is becoming less and less of a lure as the money on offer continues to climb and climb, however only for the fringe of the fringe players. The guys that are probably good enough but are not only stuck behind the incumbent but also stuck behind the already sampled replacement for the incumbent.

Peter , I think the drawing power of the black jersey is as strong as ever, but the step change has been the seriously huge money now available which is going to turn many a head, esp if you are not a regular starter and perhaps see our way to the first team blocked. For mine, Piutau would prob have made the starting side as the right winger this year but at his age and a chance to set your family up for life - makes it harder to stay for the jersey. We will lose more than in the past but the development focus steps up at home and the NZRU are great at this. Having said that, 6 months of standing at the back or on the wing at Ulster in the rain while the ball gets kicked away all day should have Piutau home sharpish. I still grumpy Hayman never came back, now that's a tighthead.

It just adds to the fun of it all. Like how Hooper's stock photo for years had him extremely cross-eyed. Or Bill Pulver's photo that people assumed came from a dating profile. Or how Ita Vaea's stock photo is Jarrad Butler.

A Lions tour more likely

Not to bad at all is it? Thats without the surprise or two we are likely to have.

Heck mate, you pulled out some good players signed to 2017 and more possibly for signing. I would start looking at the front row for starters and filter through Moody, Hames, Tameifuna, Manu, JTA, Goodes, Hohneck, Taavao and Graham. Shields also comes to mind for No 6 against Lua2a, Ioane, Taufua & Kaino. No 8 could include Squires, possibly Shields against Read. No 7's should include Cane, Savea, Todd and O'Connor all havinago. Locks pretty well covers itself with Retallick, Whitelock, Tuipulotu, Romano, Bird, Franklin and Broadhurst all belting each other. Don't forget, Skelton's younger bro is in the Chiefs development squad and will be ready by 2017 and a definite for 2019 - like his bro, he is a monster. HB will be interesting with Smith, TJP, TKB, Webber, Pulu and JGP all vying for the top 3. If Piutau returns, then he'd run against NMS, Dagg and possibly Woody (Canes) for FB. I think FH is covered with Cruden & Barrett but nothing to stop the McKenzie bros, Sopa, Black, West & Hickey also putting their hands up for a shot. Wings can include Lowe, NMS, Li, Proctor, Naholo all against Savea. IC/OC could include Crotty, Feks, Moala, Lienert-Brown, Fonotia and Ngatai all challenging but I'd suggest this will be a battle of the big boys. And yep, I like Coles, Motuu, Harris, Coltman, Taylor and Parsons all vying for the hooking berth. Should the NZ rugby public be concerned about next year and thereafter with players leaving and/or retiring.....my short answer is nah, not really - the key positions already have 30+ capped players ready to slot in which has been the MO for Hansen since he started as coach and chose an average of 10 newbies per season, since 2012. Hansen's already chosen his ABs for the next 3 seasons - all we supporters have to wait for is whether he calls time after 2017 or carries on to 2019.