Wynne Gray: This is bad news for the understudies

The Rugby Union has shown there are rules for some and not for others. Photo / Gettty Images

One unwritten clause for All Blacks is that no player is bigger than the game.

The Rugby Union and Daniel William Carter proved that wrong yesterday with their latest four-year deal.

Apparently there are all sorts of clauses which the five-eighths can activate if he wants a break from the game in New Zealand or needs to take another sporting sabbatical.

Nothing against Carter, he's the best All Black five-eighths I've seen. He's great to watch, a superbly gifted rugby player and in my dealings, a thoroughly decent human being. His advisers and agents have undoubtedly done a fine job for their client as well.

But the Rugby Union has shown there are rules for some and not for others.

Will Richie McCaw get a similar deal? Perhaps Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko or Ma'a Nonu would like a comparable arrangement, because they made their All Black test debuts before Carter.

We don't know if this four-year NZRU deal means Carter can be picked for the All Blacks while he is playing overseas. If so, then blokes of recent All Black vintage such as Nick Evans, Tamati Ellison, Greg Somerville and Carl Hayman might ask why they should not be considered.

The rule used to be that players could stay in New Zealand and compete for the All Blacks or shift overseas and vacate that opportunity. Opponents argued that the free market should apply and the All Black panel should be allowed to set their sights on overseas talent.

Now there is a new category, the Carter Clause. He has been able to stitch up an agreement where he can play anywhere and still be available for the All Blacks.

It is creative and a coup for his advisers, who have earned their coin and worked hard on Carter's wishes and the NZRU's insecurity.

If the World Cup campaign goes pear-shaped, a new selection panel would surely like to start with a clean slate without pressure about picking men on big deals.

Long-term arrangements like this tend to keep the parties together because of the investment. How about a dollar for the thoughts of Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga and Colin Slade?

No doubt the NZRU and Carter's advisers went through all sorts of ideas.

I can't help thinking, though, that an annual deal with rollover options and the sacking of the residency rule would have given both parties, and many other players, far more flexibility for the future.