KEY POINTS:
All Black Luke McAlister last night said he wasn't abandoning New Zealand rugby in signing for English club Sale, but simply wanted a new experience.
McAlister, 23, will join the Sharks in early December on a two-year contract, which leaves the door open for a return to New Zealand before the 2011 World Cup.
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Kiv, ex-pat (Sydney)
Go for it Luke, yu aren't the first & you definitely wont be the last. ABs can get much more $$$ overseas & without all the scrutiny from NZ press. The amount of player rotation that goes on means there is no security for them - just ask Piri. NZRFU need to address this player drain & consider selecting players that are overseas. What if Dan or Richie left after RWC07? I am sure they would rethink the policy of not selecting players that are not in NZ.
Robert (Auckland)
Why not pick All Blacks who are based overseas? I don't believe that the floodgates will open and all of our best players will leave NZ for the big bucks - most will stay. Surely we want to put the best 22 on the field for a test so why not use the overseas-based All Blacks?
If they are good enough to play for the AB's then let them play - they don't become the second best players in the country just because they move overseas. League and soccer do it - about time rugby caught up I say!
Michael
Just because an All Black decides to go out and experience life beyond New Zealand's borders should not mean that they are thrown out of the All Blacks. How many Kiwis wish to go on an OE or just experience life in a different part of the world before reaching the age of thirty? I know I fit within that category! Who ever said that All Blacks shouldn't be able to share that desire too? Sure, for some players it is the money, and probably for others an exit from the glaring eye of the New Zealand media, but even so, this should not mean they cannot represent New Zealand at the World Cup. The World Cup is about showcasing the best talent the nation has to offer. Anything less and, on the evidence of the numbers leaving New Zealand post world cup, the world cup will be akin to the first half of the Super 14 - a joke.
Warren (Bangkok)
So Luke is off to greener pastures. It is disappointing given the investment put into this young fellow by the various clubs, unions and franchises over his short career in New Zealand but as it is rightly pointed out we are living in a professional era and the NZRFU should be more professional in their approach.
When Ronaldo signed for Man U and Beckham for Galaxy, were the clubs left out of pocket? Not a chance - they made a packet and this is what NZRFU should do with our players put a transfer fee on them. It does not affect people like Azza or Jacko who are in their twilight years (although having seen Jacko on the weekend obviously no one has told him that)their transfer worth goes down accordingly as they age (e.g. Teddy Sheringham)but the young players who have a lot to offer NZ rugby should have a high transfer fee - it may not stop the Northern clubs plundering but it will make them think twice if they have to pay the same money to the NZRFU as they do to the player and at least the NZRFU get something out of it to develop the game in NZ.
Arron
Of course he should go, NZ is a backwater without even a decent stadium to play in. But what I can't figure out is why the NZRFU and the AB's can't compete with some little English club money wise? The ABs are regarded as the top of world rugby and have a greater fan base than any other team. Surely there is enough money floating around to compete with a little club playing in a sad little competition that has the intensity of about 3rd grade Auckland club rugby. Maybe we should also change the tax laws so that our top players can keep more of what they earn. In fact, that would be the ideal solution to keeping our business talent from being poached from overseas too.
KC (Dunedin)
McAllister's departure is unfortunate. But unfortunately this is the way rugby is heading in the professional era. I read other posts talking about how selfish he is, and why shouldn't he be!? It is his life after all. Unfortunately professionalism will be run by market forces and this is just how it will happen. What I believe is more of an issue, is the disturbing trend of making the world cup the pinnacle of test rugby. When this happens there is bound to be players who will go away in between world cups. Why stay in between when there is no real incentive to? Tri-nation after tri-nation can only be exciting for so long. The IRB needs to sort out a global calendar and get back to making every test season important.
Shane McGegor
For those that accuse McAlister of being a mercenary get over yourselves. Rugby is a professional sport and as such Rugby is a job for these players - one that can be terminated without notice due to injury or selectors whims. If you were offered a job doing exactly the same thing for 3 times the salary you are currently getting would you turn it down? Good luck to Luke at the World Cup and at Sale - I also hope he returns to NZ and makes the AB's again in time for 2011.
Kiwicafe
All Blacks are people, like all of us. We do not own them, they owe us nothing, they have the same freedom we do, to travel, marry, get drunk, whatever. The All Black management can make whatever choices they need to protect or let players go. A 23 year is ready to see the world, as it should be. I left when I was 21 and ended up with an amazing career in Sydney, New York and Hollywood. Who would deny that? Good luck to this young man, let us get rid of the ownership/tall poppy syndrome mentality and cheer on those who would seek a life. There are other places in the world that are better to live in, New Zealand is a great place to live, but it's not the only one.
OC California
Saying he is going for the (rugby?) experience, I get the feeling McAlister and the other leaving players have not watched much English club rugby. Here in the US we get quite a bit of it and the majority of it is rubbish; it doesn't hold a candle to S14 or Air NZ cup. You want to know why the England national team is so dull- just look at these club level games. The forwards are okay but the backs have no idea- even the influx of international players can't make it any better. In fact it is easy money for them- they don't bring the teams up, the players just slip-down to the teams level. Let the Poms and the Frogs have these end of career AB's- realistically how many more years would we get from the Maugers, Jacks and Haymans after the World Cup?
HK
Luke McAlister has made a bit of a mistake. He's not in his prime, and the best place for him to develop and build his rugby skills would be NZ and the AB's. This is part of the reason why Henry wants him to stay. The money maybe good in the UK, but skill levels and future player development is far behind the NZ standards, and the club he is joining will not teach him anything new - he is just a player to them and as a player should perform. If Luke wants to make a come back in the next WC, he better keep a close eye on the up and coming players. How to keep players in NZ. It all has to do with contracts, if that doesn't work, to me the only option is to change the law and have overseas players play for the AB's (if they are up to standard). Good luck Luke, and enjoy those cold winters and three day summers!
Ludakris Kiwi (Sydney)
Well, as hasbeen stated thousands of times- this is a direct result of the changing values placed on international rugby between World Cups - the RWC has totally devalued the international game between tournaments and has probably affected the value of the All Black jumper (as it is one of the highest valued in the sport previously). Where All Black teams have long strived to win every encounter in which they play - suddenly this last year - NZ Rugby had to bend to the power of the NZ public's demand to win the Cup in '07. All other nations and the European clubs have also shown remarkable disinterest in serving the interests of the International Test Match. If I was in Luke's position, and seeing some of potential team mates they can play with in the northern hemisphere, I would reluctantly take the additional money and morn the end of the International era. We should not be condemning the players- rather the administration worldwide over this issue- and the RWC format needs to change drastically to save our game down under.
RT
Luke should be allowed to pursue a career wherever he likes. He does not owe NZRU or the NZ public anything. The NZ public is critical of our rugby players when they aren't performing well and want to own them when they are at the top of their games. Let these players spread their wings and face new challenges as they represent us all on the world stage wherever they are.
"Go well Luke and may the force be with you".
Stronglung (West Harbour, Auckland)
It is unbelievable that people should say negative comments about Luke McAlister leaving New Zealand Rugby for English club Sale.
Regardless of what a person does for a living, if it is a persons ambition to travel abroad, and live overseas while they are still young, why should they be stopped?. Luke McAlister is just another young New Zealander who wants to experience the world and see what it has to offer. If he is gifted enough to play rugby and earn money from the game then it is only fair that he be allowed the same opportunities as every other young person. He is a very lucky man indeed. Welcome to our world Luke McAlister.
Michael
It would not surprise me if the whole All Blacks World Cup squad was playing in Europe by he end of next year. Why there is no transfer fee is amazing. The English, Spanish and Italian soccer leagues take the best players. Why should rugby be any different. The rugby union is dominated by old thinking people still pondering for the amateur era. Wake up! It is incredible that people think that a professional sportsman like Luke should somehow be "loyal". Of course he wants to see and do and make as much as he can in his limited career. If the rugby union wants to control that build it in to his contract and impose transfer fees just like soccer.
Double D
It's his old mans fault. Charlie has been pipeing in his ear, now Luke has lined himself and his Dad up jobs. Charlie McAlister is a joke and needs to stop riding on his boy's coattails and go find his own job. I'm disappointed with Luke's decision and disappointed with Luke. He has definitely sold out NZ and chased the pound. Waiting until your 30 ain't a bad move, at least by then he might be able to make up his own mind without daddy having to make it for him. I hope someone with more commitment to NZ stakes the claim to the AB jersey and keeps him out come 2011. Bye bye Luke, hope ya like all the money.
James
While I agree that losing classy young players like McAlister to overseas contracts is to the detriment of New Zealand rugby, I think it is going way too far to call the players selfish. Who can honestly say that if they were good enough to be offered a big contract in Europe that they wouldn't be tempted to take it up for a couple of years. Imagine being paid extremely good money while being able to take your OE and see Europe, with the only catch being that you had to play rugby! Yes, there is strong the allure of the All Black jersey but obviously McAlister is going to still be young enough to have another crack if he's still good enough (remember MacDonald came back from Japan a far better player). It is the right of the individual to choose their career path. NZ Rugby as a whole needs to find ways to make it more appealing for players (particularly promising young ones) to stay.
TJ
The issue with players and contracts will always be there since rugby has gone professional. Transfer fees etc can all be put in place to help curb and pay off some of the investment put into NZ players. However we should still be assisting our pacific island nations a lot more as well as we definitely benefit at their expense. With regards to contracts we need to have All Blacks committed to beyond World Cups by at least one year. Therefore when signing up players the next world cup should be a focal point for NZ Rugby management. This would help avoid the debacle of players announcing overseas contracts they have secured before playing in the upcoming World Cup.
Ronan (Ireland/Hamilton)
There's some crazy comments on here. Some are suggesting that a young guy that wants to see the world and work while he's at it cannot do so. Imagine in your professional job your boss said, if you join us you can't work anywhere else in the world for 2 years because we have trained you. Sure money is a major part of it, but who honestly would pass up the chance to make some great money and see lots of Europe. I think a transfer fee would be appropriate to reward the coaching and support which a player required while developing. One other point is that NZ Rugby and the AB's have no problem hovering up all the talents that the islands can provide. I don't see too many shouting that they should stay and play for Fuji etc and ignore the AB's and the money here.
Truewit
Clearly the IRB needs to put international transfer fees in place. This is not only important for New Zealand, but more so for Fiji, Samoa, and Argentina, all of whom are impoverished by the standards of the NZRU. As for McAlister, he has every right to make the decision he has; what strikes one as overly cynical is the fact that he announced it the day after the squad was selected: an attitude that, I suspect, will do him no favour in Graham Henry's eyes. Nonu, in particular, must feel slightly aggrieved. Having said that, I see that Richard Kahui has signed with the NZRU until 2011. If Toeava moved into 12, then the All Blacks will still have Nonu/Toeava and Smith/Kahui for 2008-09. McAlister may well find that it will be far harder to get his place back in 2010 than he expects, and that would only be just.
Sam Owen (Sydney)
To Mat (Your Views) in particular and friends; Wow, get over it - it's just a game. If he says he wants to experience life then why can't he just do that - there is more to life than NZ you know. Have you ever been out of NZ for longer than a week on the Gold Coast to find that out? Who are you to judge where someone can or can't work and make him less or more than someone else in the same job. Anton Oliver may have bled for the jersey but he sure as hell didn't get paid for throwing straight. Minor point - when you other players have "earn't" the right to go overseas, grammatically I think you are saying "earn not" and not 'earned'.
Kingi (London)
Living in London for the past 5 years you start to appreciate there direction and the reasons as to why rugby players come over here, lets face it - A3;A3;A3;A3;A3;A3;A3; and why not. The quality of rugby is not as good but at least they pack out there games on a regular basis and support them well even if there losing. In fact having so many southern hemisphere players over here is great to watch, makes it much more attacking style than the traditional ol trench warfare they used to use (suitable to the conditions I suppose) So whilst I'm disappointed to see the exodus of great players from NZ I'm even more happy cause I will be able to watch them all on a regular basis over here. Kiwis need to get over themselves, pride will only get you so far, if you need to blame something, blame globalization. How many regular kiwi's arrive over here daily, loads is the answer including me!
RugbyGod (UK)
Yes it's a shame that he has gone in his "prime" but he lived up that way for 10yrs and has mates over there. And what's wrong with him heading over to get some of the silly money these NH clubs are spending, its been reported that he is/could be getting A3;250,000 a year that's $637,000 NZD and if the NZRFU had matched it he would have still go overseas later. The money they have saved can go on another 4-6 players. How many of us Kiwis have gone done the Big OE lots and he is just doing his. All those who are saying he shouldn't go or should never play for the AB's again etc can I ask you, what are you afraid of? They will give away secrets or help improve the level of other nations? Pull your heads in and wish the Bloke the best of luck. He will have 2 yrs of GP rugby and will be able to come back and be set money wise for life. Or are you people that don't want the best for yourself and family, e.g. "I'm sad and miserable and so everyone else should be". It's time New Zealanders wished the Best for all their sportsmen and stopped the "Tall poppy syndrome" Luke and others all the best guys.
Carlos
The only time someone leads off with it's not about the money is when it's about the money. McAlister's situation however may well be different to most as a kid he lived 10 years, almost half of his young life living in this area. Who's to say he doesn't consider himself a pom who took advantage of playing in NZ to do his apprenticeship. In any profession or trade wouldn't it be the smartest thing to try to learn from the best? He was given and took advantage of a chance to learn from the best and most innovative minds in the game. He will now parlay that into a more secure future for himself. Who, and in what job wouldn't try to do the same? There are many levels of fixes that can be made but I do agree with a number of posters here in that the NZRU union needs to somehow rework their contracts so that there is some sort of remuneration when players jump - right now players are ripe for plucking for nothing! They have learnt their trade in this county and we as a country need some sort of payback for that - that is essential for the continuation of the game at it's grass roots. We can't spend the meagre resources we have to train and educate players and receive nothing in return - whaddayathink we're running here...a charity? Next thing you know we'll be spending our very limited resources to educate kids for them to skip the country without paying back what they owe the country. Nah that'll never happen.
Craig M.
I was certain this wouldn't happen. In another season Luke would have becomes THE best test inside back in the world, then powered on through Super and test rugby to become one of the best players ever. He's been groomed for this from a young age; he's a gift from the rugby gods to a rugby mad nation. This kid would have joined the pantheon and quite likely been a leading light in a coming dynasty of All Black dominance that our depth in the game deserves. Not only will he never be the player he could have been now (we all know the standard of play in the comp he's off to swim around in), you think he's the type to stomach a major paycut and come back in two years? What an incredibly tragic and selfish precedent for him to set. Losing guys after they'd given their best to the country that brought them up to their best was stomachable and organic, but for a kid with such a massive test future ahead. Rattue (what a surprise for him to praise a development detrimental to NZ rugby) says the pride and lustre of the jersey is a myth to the young these days. With guys like Luke setting examples like he has, it just got a lot worse. But if he wins the WC I'll forgive him.
DCF
The All Black brand and jersey was cheapened well before McAlister was wearing it. The NZRU did not and still has not handled the professional era with any competence. Until the NZRU itself learns to be a professional body and treat the players appropriately the players will always seek the best deal on offer regardless of the club or country. New Zealand, learn form John O'Niell, leave the emotion out of the argument, rugby is a sport for 80 minutes the rest of the time it is business.
Rugby Fan
To keep players in NZ just make it compulsory for players to sign a 10 year deal with the NZRU when first signing for a NZ province in the Air New Zealand Cup or Super14. A lot of New players would gladly sign to play first grade rugby. But I hope it doesn't go that way as a am all for players making the most out of their careers. Good luck to Luke and all the players set to go overseas.
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