Rugby: Change of rule could tempt stars to return

Saracens' Chris Jack battles with Carl Hayman of Newcastle. Photo / Getty Images

A raft of former All Blacks are ready to come home and pressure is mounting for an historic rule change to rush them back ahead of the Tri Nations.

Chris Jack, Carl Hayman and Sam Tuitupou are all understood to be interested in exploring the possibility of coming home when their Northern Hemisphere seasons end in June.

It is believed that other former All Blacks, who would still be good enough to challenge for places in the current team, are contemplating a shift as the mood in English rugby changes towards highly paid imports at this time of economic distress.

Luke McAlister has confirmed he will return in May but under the present legislation he won't be available for the All Blacks until the end of year tour. To be eligible for selection, players must have featured in the preceding domestic competition.

All Black coach Graham Henry is hoping McAlister will be granted a special dispensation by the New Zealand Rugby Union to waive the ruling.

With Dan Carter injured and New Zealand lacking options at first and second five eighths, it would be a source of massive frustration to both Henry and the nation if McAlister is fit and in-form but unable to play because of a ruling made several years ago.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the ruling was put in place to protect players who chose to stay in New Zealand.

There are many others, though, who believe it is outdated and was only ever dreamt up as a means to force those who went offshore to serve a penance when they returned.

"If there are extraordinary circumstances an exemption can be sought, but I would not pre-empt that decision," Tew said.

Henry will push hard for the rule to be relaxed as it will make contract negotiations with those offshore that bit easier. If players feel they will have to serve an arbitrary stand down period from test football, it will put them off coming home.

It would make sense to revamp the legislation given that the market place has changed dramatically since it was devised.

The NZRU has shown itself to be surprisingly flexible in its efforts to retain players by offering sabbatical periods. That same willingness to be accommodating could be instrumental in bringing back several players who the country wished had never left.

The NZRU board next meets on April 22 and it is probable that Henry will have lodged a claim for McAlister's exemption by then.

If it is granted, it is inevitable that the board will have to discuss dropping the clause altogether.

If McAlister's claim is rejected it could strain negotiations with the other former All Blacks.