KEY POINTS:
Twenty years ago Luke McAlister tagged along to Manchester as his father took up a professional sporting contract. Shortly, it seems, the roles will be reversed with McAlister joining the All Black exodus to the Sale rugby club while his father picks up a subsidiary club coaching role.
McAlister's post-World Cup exit will come on top of overseas deals for Aaron Mauger, Byron Kelleher, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Greg Rawlinson and Rico Gear from those players picked this season for the All Blacks.
So how do we keep NZ's sporting talent? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Beaky (Gold Coast, Queensland)
When you live in this country, you see just how much emphasis and money is put into sports and how this enables the Australian psyche "to win at any cost" to continue. Given New Zealand's population, how can you compete with other much, much, bigger countries like Australia. An example of this is the development of the home ground for the newly formed Rugby League Team, the Titans which is underway at a cost of (so far), $160 million. Australia also puts millions and millions into sporting academies for those with potential, who can be "groomed" from a very young age.
Wesley
Sport's version of the "Brain Drain".
Kiri Wynne
Up until the now the prestige of being an All Black was enough to keep our top players here through their prime years. It is such a shame that NZ isn't able to match the huge figures being waved in front of our boys' faces, but you can't really blame them for taking the offers either. It just won't work if these players split their time between European clubs and then playing for their country during the international test match season just look what that has done to English and French rugby. Rock and a hard place really.
Sam Nafatali
The ABs will do alright. But there is a good scenario of including Lauaki in the team. Put him in the first 50 mins to tire down the opposition then bring in Sooialo to operate his running skill. That should make Lauaki a big part of the WC team. Just a reminder to the AB's, do not let any feeling of complacency have a room in your mental capacity, and you will see continuity in terms of satisfactory results, on the condition that you are well prepared in all other aspects of your game. Enjoy your rugby.
Pete G
Simple, money (and lots of it) means NZ will never be able to hold it's elite sportsmen, and let's get real here. Russell Coutts & Brad Butterworth's pay checks put the rugby boys in a different category. Why shouldn't they go for the big money? Everyone else does. Students flee to the UK so they can repay their loans &and still have a life. What's the Transtasmen exodus about if it's not for the money?
John McCall
Rugby union is going the same way as international Football where salaries have blown out of all proportion with the few wealthy clubs getting richer. Rugby Union could avoid this problem if the IRB just realised that an international salary cap of some sort so that wealthy countries can't bribe good players from less fortunate countries. Quite simply, unless this sort of restriction is implemented soon rugby will die as an international competitive sport. Then nobody gains.
Chris (Auckland)
If we are to believe the NZRFU that the All Blacks are the biggest brand in world sport then how come they don't pay them accordingly?
As a comparison look at Ryan Nelson the NZ soccer captain who hardly ever gets any media attention in NZ. He is at best an average international footballer playing for Blackburn an average club in the English Premier League yet he earns NZ$8,000,000 per year while we pay our All Blacks NZ$300,000 per year. Pay them more if you want them to stay simple.
Adam Williams
Who cares if the All Blacks leave for UK. I used to but don't now. Rugby has lost its mojo and hasn't been interesting for some time. NZRFU has slowly been transformed into a company that is only concerned with image and brand. The marketing people have taken over and there's no heart left in it. The All Blacks aren't a team, they're a brand. Graham Henry sounds like my boss rather than a coach, he talks about things going forward, challenges and opportunities and stake-holders. The NZRFU keeps throwing parties that it doesn't turn up to. Super 14 without All Blacks, tri-nations without the Boks, they bang on about the rugby heartland, there's never been one. We're an island the heartland's in America. That's how mixed up they are with re-inventing stuff. It's as if someone who doesn't like rugby has been given the job to give it a make over. Also Google NPC and there is no dedicated site for that competition either. Why should anyone think that this competition is worthwhile. It's not. Things are messed up and I'm switching off. It's no wonder the players are taking off as well. It's curious though how small clubs in the UK can stump up $400k for Luke McAlister, what are NZRFU doing with all of their money?
Pam Panapa
Yes at last we're focusing on the exodus of our sporting stars, this has to be one of our major priorities, because their is a cultural and economic factor involved. Do people at home not realise that not only do teams like the All Blacks illustrate the importance of the culture of their indigenous people (yes, I'm Maori) by performing the haka with such respect and intensity, earning themselves, respect and plaudits from around the world, but they must also bring in millions of dollars based on tourism, by sporting fans who just want to be at the birthplace of their heroes or to see their national teams play against the best. As for merchandising, I went into a Sydney sports shop looking for All Blacks apparel during the last world cup and when I asked the sales clerk why they had so much Wallabies apparel there and not much All Blacks he admitted that All Blacks apparel constantly sold out not only to Kiwis but also to the Asian and Lebanese communities who favoured our jersey. This team also fills stadiums all over the planet, something the Adidas corporation logged on to when they signing up with our national team at a cost of millions of dollars and utilised our All Blacks haka to market rugby worldwide. We have to try and keep our talent at home at all costs, whether it be monetary or contractual by offering these guys a decent life after rugby, which we all know at best only has a ten-year life span. I know this years focus has been on bringing the world cup home,(something I dearly want to see), but I think we need to focus on keeping our best at home because I know New Zealand's place in rugby folklore and the 100 year All Black legacy is more important then a Cup!.
Bruce
To retain sporting talent is simple. They need to be paid international 'salaries'. Being such a small country with a domestic market the size of a large city the reality is such offers are unlikely. What the Luke McAlister story again proves is that rugby's influence and power resides with European clubs. I noted over the weekend that Grant Fox was resigned to the fact the All Black brand would need to play more tests to keep the NZFU financially viable. In the long term, friendly internationals will be negated by the European clubs who undoubtedly see little benefit in releasing their players to national teams. We only have ourselves to blame in this regard. SANZAR should have opened the door to allow other countries in (which their larger markets and finances). Strength and influence is in numbers. Calls to ditch SANZAR and create a trans-Tasman competition will only accelerate the drain of our rugby talent to Europe.
Alan Broberg
Congratulations Luke, well done. Kiwis should be proud to produce so many good sports men and women. They have one life, get the best out of it you can. In this day money talks, BS walks, and small change rides the bus.
Chris (Japan)
Up until this week I've been 110 per cent behind Luke for an All Black centre spot (over the self-loving butter fingers Toeova, the guy even tattooed his name on his back!) but any AB who sits on the fence like Luke is doing, and lacking the focus and skills needed should be cast aside now while there's still time to form a decent centre combi! He's shot himself in the foot by showing that his head is elsewhere, perhaps that explains his rather lacklustre performances in the AB jersey so far in 2007. Show some balls NZRFU and selectors, show him and Toeova the door, and search out some decent new blood via the NPC or bring back Umanga! Does anyone here believe that an AB team with Umanga and Mauger in the centre spots could lose a match in 2007?
Andrew W
Rugby players are professionals who have a very short time frame in which to earn premium wages. Other New Zealanders, including doctors, nurses, accountants etc, go overseas to experience life and earn considerably more money than they are able to here. Luke has every right to take this opportunity to secure his future and we should thank him for his contribution to New Zealand Rugby. If he decides to return to New Zealand, he should be assessed purely on his playing merits, as were some of the current All Black coaches assessed on their coaching merits.
Paul Donaldson
Good luck to all NZ rugby players who ply their trade overseas, after all isn't the game professional now. Do Brazil, Argentina, Italy etc bemoan their foreign stars playing overseas in football, no, because it is a professional game. If all those whingers out their think for a moment, do doctors, lawyers, scientists, brickies etc not go overseas for professional and lifestyle reasons then you should wake up. It's all sounding too parochial. Part of the success of New Zealand is its ability to produce what the world wants and not just hide it away in a far corner for fear that they may be surpassed one day. It won't happen, it may ebb and flow but it will keep producing its X-factor that the rest of the world wants.
Ken White
One way to retain the All Blacks who go overseas, would be to change the rule of insisting that they play in NZ to qualify for for the All Blacks. Allow them to go, but suggest they have a clause in their contract that will release them for international duty if not required for club finals. That way at least some of the good players will be available. If required, surely the NZRU could afford to have a staff member based in UK/Europe to watch their form to see if the players are maintaining their standards.
Sharon Holman
Why should we care where the sporting talent goes? Far too much emphasis is put on sporting heroes here, in fact if as much effort was put into fixing up the problems faced by the country, we would be a truly great nation. I suppose this is a call to pay these so called heroes even more money, when in fact I see little return for the money they already cost. Rugby we are sick to death of it there is far too much on TV to the detriment of other sports.
Jayson
Why are investing time and money in an investment which the NZRFU and the rugby paying public will never see a return on? Why should all of the kids and fans be subjected to this disloyal conduct from no good mercenary. Have a good life and experience, Luke just don't milk the public for what its worth and then take the money and run. Drop him from the All Blacks and find an able bodied replacement aka Anthony Tuitavake.
pCb
Welcome to the wonderful world of top level professional sport, namely the good go where ever the money is (it's been happening in the beautiful game for years). I would hate being under the microscope that these guys do in New Zealand so why not depart, earn more money while not having to put up with the level of hype and expectation layered upon them .
Peter Watkins
It's a price of placing so much importance on the world cup as opposed to test matches. All Blacks tests happen so often now that they simply aren't special any more. Being an All Black at the world cup is the only thing that's really unique, so there's a gap of four years where players can merrily go and earn lots of money. Sort it out IRB.
Andy H
This is bad, bad news if we can't keep someone in their prime, the NZRFU will need to say if you leave these shores you will never, ever play again for the All Blacks that simple. If we don't we'll have a rubbish Super 14 for 3 years, then it'll be great for world cup year. Think about a team of ABs with no super stars for three years, then at world cup year a superstar team. How terrible would this be! I'll support an AB team loyal to NZ and while they might be average initially if they stay with us for four years at world cup year we'll still be a force. It's the old saying a superstar team will always beat a team of superstars. We need to say to Bluey Mclennan you can take the dosh and go to England but you will never, ever coach for NZ again. Jeez we'll even need to tell Hamish Marshall that he'll never be a black cap again.
Vince
We are in a wonderful position in NZ where we are producing very good rugby players all the time. The NZRFU can't pay everyone what they want and if they don't want to play international rugby for the All Blacks then let them go. McAlister and other players who go overseas, treat the NZ rugby public as idiots by denying that they are in talks or have already signed with clubs. Stand up and grow a back bone. Players go for the money and that is all it is to it, not he "life style" as they say. You live in Europe for the life style in the summer, not the winter playing rugby.
Unless big companies here and overseas get in behind NZ rugby you can keep asking that question every year like you have been since rugby went professional.
Kerr
Yes I think we will be seeing a lot more of this & it is understandable. I think we as a country need to pay our elite sportsmen accordingly! Look at the America's Cup for example! It shouldn't be too much of a problem hopefully, as we have a very good development program for young players. But should these clubs be paying NZRU for developing the players of the standard we do? They don't seem to be able to do it with there players! Finally, I don't think many of the young players who go for a year or two & come back will find they make it back in the ABs easily or at all. They wont be playing the same style of rugby over there and I don't see them coming back as sharp as when they left.
Chad (West Auckland)
Good on him if he leaves NZ at a young age and experience life in other countries etc etc. He seems to be a very switched on kid and is all class, and a huge support from his family and his dad, although his father gets criticized by the NZ press for some reason. I think its exciting for him. We have all been overseas at some time and gathered more life skills in all areas.Good on him. And isn't it great that a father son obviously get on so well together, isn't that a good thing. Doesn't seem to be happening much these days.
Bruce Findlay
The reality is that we can't compete with the big money of overseas. The English RU comes off second best in stoushes with the clubs, so what chance have we? The NZRFU need to maintain their policy of domestic participation for All Black qualification, and try and come up with more innovative ways of revitalising the international game in this part of the world.
Why not a Pacific rim championship or southern hemisphere tournament, in the style of the European Football Championship, or Copa America, with Argentina, Australia, The Nth Americans, Japanese and Pacific Island Nations to be played every four years splitting World Cups. The Tri-Nations could be played in the other two years available, making that a Bi-annual event and making a finals game to heighten interest. What about restarting the one-off Bledisloe Cup Clashes? These ideas could reinvigorate Spectator interest and encourage sponsors dollars, putting more money into the game and giving us a better chance of keeping our top players. Keep it fresh for players, sponsors, and spectators.
