Rugby: Bowden may signal start of pre-Cup departures

Daniel Bowden. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Bowden's signing for London Irish could be the start of a wave of second-tier players leaving New Zealand rugby before the 2011 World Cup.

The 23-year-old five-eighth, who will join the Guinness Premiership club after the Super 14 season, says he may be the first of many players looking to secure a deal before the top international stars hit the market after the 2011 World Cup.

"Don't be alarmed or surprised if a lot more guys who are not All Blacks, or have one or two caps, take off this year," Bowden says.

"If you are not going to make the World Cup you may as well go and maximise your earning potential, get some different life experiences and possibly look to return if things fall into line.

"Tim Bateman and Tamati Ellison are both off to Japan before the World Cup. They have young kids and want to look at the financial security now rather than waiting around."

Bowden says an increase in the retainers paid to Super rugby players is vital to keeping our best players.

"Surely the NZRU must start to look at this. The Super 15 starts next year and we are hoping the retainers will be increased because even for players like me, below the All Blacks, the NZRU cannot compete with the money overseas."

Bowden, who is in the Crusaders' extended squad and has played for the Highlanders, admits missing out on the Junior All Blacks last year was the catalyst for him to look at options outside New Zealand.

But he wasn't expecting to get a call from London Irish head coach Toby Booth.

"Initially I was surprised it was London Irish who wanted to sign me, but I was happy it was them because I think it will really suit me. I have spoken to a lot of Kiwis playing over there and they said if I want to play in the UK I should play for just one of three clubs, with London Irish top of the list.

"[Attack coach] Mike Catt and Booth both have a great attacking philosophy and on average London Irish score the most tries of any team in the premiership, so their credentials really speak for themselves.

"These days players need to have some versatility, so what may have helped me in picking up this deal is the fact I can play both 10 and 12."

He has hardly been in the spotlight lately, with no game time at all for the Crusaders so far in the Super 14.

But it must be the West Indian blood he inherited from his mother which keeps him nicely chilled out, because Bowden has nothing but positive things to say about his time in Christchurch, particularly working with the world's best No 10 Daniel Carter.

"One of the things I went to the Crusaders for was to learn from DC, after being at the Highlanders where I was sort of teaching myself as such, as they really didn't have a senior player in the team to help me develop.

"He has been so helpful and it has been almost as beneficial training with him as it is playing, so no regrets at all joining the Crusaders."

However, he talks of the bitter disappointment of missing out on the Blues' squad to imports Stephen Brett and Daniel Kirkpatrick after Auckland brought him home from Dunedin last year.

"It really stung me not to make the Blues, as I wanted to be back home in Auckland this year making a difference for the Blues. It didn't work out that way bit it was definitely my intention to be living and playing in Auckland this year."

Looking back is not part of Bowden's makeup, as he knows he will return with plenty of years still left in the tank:

"Who knows how long I will stay, but if I come back in two years then I will still only be 25 and a more rounded player."