The Debate Over Selecting Overseas-Based Players for the All Blacks
Sir Steven Hansen, New Zealand’s most successful head coach, has long been a staunch opponent of selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks. However, he is beginning to consider exceptions, despite the potential challenges that come with such a decision.
Hansen has stated that he will leave the final decision to “wiser men” than himself, but he has explored the trade-offs if New Zealand Rugby were to allow Dave Rennie the flexibility to select players competing abroad. This debate has been ongoing in Aotearoa, especially after South Africa abolished its restrictions in 2018 and went on to win back-to-back World Cups. Australia’s policy is less clear-cut, but the introduction of the ‘Giteau Law’ in 2015 provided a significant boost to the Wallabies, allowing Joe Schmidt to include a few players not based in Australia.
Outside of New Zealand, Ireland and England remain the only two Tier One nations that do not permit their coaching teams to select players from abroad.
Sir Graham Henry’s Perspective
Sir Graham Henry, Hansen’s predecessor, has also weighed in on the discussion. He suggested that he would “allow All Blacks to play overseas” but with a flexible criterion, possibly around 20 Tests. “You’re bringing back ideas from overseas. What it does for players is it not only develops them as rugby players but also as people – they’re more worldly, they’re more confident,” he said on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin. He cited South Africa as an example of how this approach can be beneficial.
The debate intensified during Scott Robertson’s tenure as head coach of the All Blacks. He pushed for changes to allow the selection of fly-half Richie Mo’unga, who signed with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Shannon Frizell and veteran lock Brodie Retallick also left New Zealand, and Retallick’s strong performance in Japan has reignited the conversation. New All Blacks boss Dave Rennie has expressed a desire to select the 100+ Test cap lock.
Steve Hansen’s Evolving Stance
On the DSPN podcast, Hansen was asked about his thoughts on loosening the selection policy. His response was comprehensive. “It’s a really hard question because right now we’re not being successful. So, it would be easy to say: ‘Let’s pick them from everywhere,’” he said.
However, Hansen believes that the reason not to pick from everywhere are the competitions in New Zealand. “We need strong competitions in this country to keep people engaged in rugby, to keep growing, learning, and understanding how we want to play the game as New Zealanders.”
He further explained that selecting players from abroad could complicate squad alignment. “If you start picking from all over the world, and you can pick a young fella who has been playing the English way, which I’m not saying is a bad thing, but you’ve got to bring him back and mould them into a group in how we want to play, what’s our DNA?”
Hansen emphasized the importance of strong competitions in developing a national identity for New Zealand rugby. “Having strong competitions creates a DNA on how we want to play. We have to have a pathway for our own coaches as well. So strong competitions for them and not just coaches but physios, doctors, nutritionists, everything.”
The Brodie Retallick Exception
Despite his reservations, Hansen acknowledges the strength of the Japan Rugby League One competition, citing the quality of players, coaches, and staff involved. “I look at Japan, having been up here. It’s a really, really strong competition. Some great coaching up here. You go through all the names of the people who are coaching teams that have good support.”
He considered the possibility of selecting Brodie Retallick, given his outstanding performance. “So you might turn around and say, ‘Well Brodie Retallick is playing out of his skin, let’s pick him.’ He has played over 100 Test matches, created some form of rule or expectation, and you might look at him.”
However, he raised concerns about the impact on younger players in New Zealand. “But if you start doing that, then you ask yourself, what about the [Josh] Lords and the [Sam] Darrys and those boys that have developed and become really good All Blacks and really good rugby players. Do we stop that development? By bringing these people back, it’s a conundrum that doesn’t have an easy answer, and you’re going to win and lose both ways.”
Confidence in Local Talent
Despite the exodus of New Zealand players to overseas clubs, Hansen remains confident in the country’s local talent. “Yeah, more than confident,” he said when asked if he still had confidence in the talent in New Zealand. “I know we have the talent. You’ve just got to see some of the players that are out there.”
Hansen believes that while there may be room for exceptions, a complete relaxation of the policy is not the way forward. “There are wiser men than I who will make that decision. So, I just stay out of it. But I think a carte blanche, I am no; one or two maybe.”
