Solving global rugby problems from 'little old Hawke's Bay'

As the chief executive of Pacific Rugby Players, the rugby world listens when Aayden Clarke speaks from his Napier base. Photo / Paul Taylor

He used to run the Hawke's Bay Magpies backline from first five.

Now Aayden Clarke runs the representative body for about 750 professional rugby players around the world and sits in meetings shaping the direction of the global game.

And the chief executive of Pacific Rugby Players does it all from an office in Napier.

"It's quite interesting actually, because I'm sort of parked away here in little old Hawke's Bay dealing with global strategic rugby issues," Clarke said.

Pre-Covid, his role at the head of the organisation representing Fijian, Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islander rugby players around the world required plenty of travel.

"I'd be in Europe a couple of times a year, then I'd be across to Japan, then in the Pacific three or four times a year, then Australia," he said.

Wairoa born-and-raised Clarke is enjoying doing more of that work over the phone now, which means he can spend more time at home in Puketapu.

His iwi is Ngāti Kahungunu. He has no Pacific island heritage, but said being an outsider is useful because none of the unions could perceive a bias to a particular country.

Pacific Rugby Players have staff in Paris, the United Kingdom and Fiji who focus on personal development and education for players, setting them up for a life after rugby.

Aayden Clarke on the run for the Hawke's Bay Magpies back in 2008. Photo / File

Since Clarke started in the role more than four years ago, his daily work has evolved towards bigger-picture issues in the sport.

"We've found ourselves in a position where we're playing a key role in the strategic direction [of rugby]."

That means pushing for more opportunity for Pacific teams and players in competitions like the Mitre 10 Cup, Australian National Rugby Championship, Global Rapid Rugby, and the current efforts to get a team into Super Rugby.

"More opportunity means more contracts for players," Clarke said.

He has been supporting all the bids looking to join the competition since New Zealand Rugby expressed an interest in adding a Pacific Islands-based team.

"I made it clear that we have to be transparent and unbiased towards all of them, because my drive is really just for the opportunity to happen," Clarke said.

"To open up contract opportunities for players, and because that's what Pacific rugby needs."

He understands New Zealand Rugby is progressing talks with Sir Bryan Williams' Moana Pasifika bid for 2022, but thought the idea that the runway was too short for them to get off the ground for next season was a copout from the national union.

"If you really wanted to make it happen you could make it happen, but it was in the too-hard basket for New Zealand Rugby," Clarke said, noting this was their opportunity to walk the talk on supporting rugby in the islands.

"It's about, do you genuinely want to make it happen, can you sleep at night?

"Does the world of rugby owe it to the Pacific Islands to really dig in and make it happen, rather than find reasons why not? And they should, because there's more Pacific Island players running across this world than anyone else."

He said they need to create an option for players to stay in the islands, New Zealand or Australia and play professionally, which doesn't exist at the moment.

Clarke represents about 750 Pacific players around the world, and has been key to talks around bringing a Pasifika team into Super Rugby. Photo / Paul Taylor

There are strict limitations on international players turning out for Super Rugby sides on either side of the Tasman, making it hard for players to represent the island of their birth or heritage without heading to a European club.

He said though it could be frustrating at times, the work could be really rewarding.

"Sometimes you'll read a headline in a paper, or see a new competition or new team, and you know that you've played an integral role and been part of that," he said.

And that becomes most clear when he is at the Puketapu pub on a Sunday watching rugby.

"I'll be sitting there at the bar leaner with guys that are all taking their own view on what should be happening.

"And I'm sitting there like wow, I'm actually in those meetings... I'm shaping it. Solving global rugby problems from little old Hawke's Bay."