Crusaders propose draft rule changes

The Crusaders are understood to be pushing to change next season's Super 14 draft rules to help them cover the loss of their All Blacks.

New Zealand's champion franchise is expecting to lose several All Blacks for up to six weeks of next year's Super 14 and is looking at ways to strengthen its squad.

Players who have been drafted twice by a franchise can make themselves available for that team, even if they play for a province outside its catchment zone.

It is understood the Crusaders want a change to allow players who have been drafted just once to be able to nominate the franchise for which they are available.

If successful, the Crusaders could protect the hugely promising Tanerau Latimer, who could replace All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at openside flanker.

The proposal is understood to have been put forward at a meeting between New Zealand Rugby Union and Super 14 executives two weeks ago to discuss plans for next season.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry wants to give 22 of his squad an extended rest and conditioning window at the start of next year to ensure New Zealand's top players are in prime physical shape for the World Cup.

It is thought Henry plans to stagger the playing returns of his "protected" 22, as some players will require less rest and conditioning than others.

McCaw, Chris Jack, Daniel Carter, Aaron Mauger, Rico Gear and Leon MacDonald are almost certain to be prescribed prolonged recovery windows which will leave the Crusaders shorn of vital assets for four to six weeks of the Super 14.

The Hurricanes, too, will be left short of playing resources, with Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo, Jason Eaton and Piri Weepu likely to be holed up for the early weeks. The Blues are unlikely to have access to Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Ali Williams, Troy Flavell, Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett.

The Super 14 franchises have requested that they be allowed to contract more than 28 players next season to cover their All Blacks and are also hoping to be allowed to protect more than 24 players.

And that is why the Crusaders are pushing for a change to the draft rules. Taking 22 All Blacks out of the playing pool means players on the draft list this year are likely to be protected in 2007.

That will see the draft list feature a host of players with little or no Super 14 experience and franchises are reluctant to rely on the draft to fill holes in their squad.

This year, the Highlanders filled only 18 of their 24 protected places and used the draft to make up the rest. But they will look more to local players next season.

The Crusaders drafted Ross Filipo, Brad Mika, Tony Koonwaiyou and Latimer this season.

Filipo, Mika and Koonwaiyou have all played two seasons or more for the Crusaders, qualifying them to nominate the franchise for which they want to play.

Latimer, though, has only played one and as a Bay of Plenty representative, can be protected only by the Chiefs under the existing rules.

While the Crusaders are pushing for change, it is thought the Blues will oppose the move as they have been the biggest contributor of draft players. This year, they lost Sam Tuitupou, Mika, Koonwaiyou, Andy Blowers, Nick White and Isaia Toeava to the draft.

Given their expected All Black absentees, the Blues will almost certainly not want to lose such an experienced group next season.

But if the rules change, the Chiefs could protect Tuitupou, the Highlanders Blowers and White, the Hurricanes Toeava. Mika and Koonwaiyou already have the right to say they want to play for the Crusaders and not the Blues.

The specifics on squad numbers and the rules of selection appear to be the only issues left to be resolved in the debate about how next season should be structured.