Chance to lift huge money lures 'prop shop' graduates

Evidence that New Zealand has regained respect as a scrummaging powerhouse has been delivered by foreign predators desperate to lure promising props overseas with unprecedented pay packets.

In the last six months the offers have been flying in for the likes of Neemia Tialata, John Afoa, Ben Castle and Campbell Johnstone.

The money has gone off the scale with a basic package starting at €200,000 (NZ$380,000) for a regular Super 14 player, rising to €300,000 (NZ$570,000) for a proven test campaigner. All are contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union at present.

The reason for this demand is pretty simple - New Zealand is once again recognised as a breeding ground for quality, rugged, scrummaging props who can also get around the paddock a bit.

It wasn't so long ago that European clubs were a bit sniffy about Kiwi front row forwards. If they were going to recruit from New Zealand it was going to be loose forwards, particularly opensides, goal-kicking first five-eighths and try-scoring wings.

Those were the positions New Zealand did well.

But that perception has changed in the last few years as the All Blacks have put the emphasis back on set-piece work and improved their scrummaging. The rugby world could hardly have missed the fact that Carl Hayman is rather good. That not only does he do the dark bits but he also chugs around quite happily.

The still underrated Tony Woodcock has won his admirers, too, including the Wallaby coach, John Connolly, who reckoned it was the North Harbour man behind the wreckage of the Australian scrum in Christchurch this year.

The fact that the likes of Tialata, Johnstone and Afoa have been able to slot in for Woodcock and Hayman has alerted scouts to the depth and quality in New Zealand - and sent them scrambling to get their hands on the next big thing.

The scrum remains a big deal in Europe, and any prop who can hold his own and trot around can name his price. The attrition of the position, and the fact the bench has to have at least one specialist prop, has invoked classic supply-and-demand economics. As in there is a massive demand and no great supply.

Rob Brady, who runs the Sixfoot2 sports agency, says: "We have had a lot of interest in talented young props. I guess that is testament to the work All Black scrum coach Mike Cron has been doing.

"There is a perception that New Zealand is producing high-quality tightheads and looseheads that can scrummage well and that are also pretty mobile."

Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw will always be sought after but props are now the glamour boys of world rugby, a point proved by Taranaki and Samoa player Census Johnson who is understood to have signed one of the best deals ever seen in European rugby to play for Saracens.

Kees Meeuws commands €300,000 a season, significantly more than the likes of Justin Marshall who is believed to earn £150,000 (€220,000) at the Ospreys and Andrew Mehrtens who is on an estimated £140,000 (€205,000) at Harlequins.

It might not be good for your ears or your back but playing prop is seriously good for your bank account these days.