Rugby: Melbourne look to NZ for players

Rocky Elsom. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's drain on players will be stretched further by the new Melbourne Super 15 franchise but rugby bosses remain largely relaxed about its ability to lure up to 10 foreigners.

Last week, the Australian Rugby Union confirmed the ownership of the Melbourne franchise but also announced they would be given special dispensation to sign up to 10 overseas players for their first season in 2011.

This was done in the hope they will be competitive from the outset but their quota will be reduced over four years to bring them in line with the other Australian franchises.

The other four are restricted to just two: one marquee signing who has already qualified for another nation and a development player who could qualify for Aus-tralian selection under the IRB's three-year residency regulation.

South Africa also allow a limited number of imports and New Zealand two but these are restricted to Pacific Island players.

While it might seem unfair for Melbourne to be allowed so many foreigners - the Western Force weren't given this dispensation when they entered the competition in 2006 - most are, publicly at least, saying it is a positive move.

"You don't want a whipping boy in any competition, so some sort of exemption is reasonable," says Highlanders boss Richard Reid.

NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen added: "We think it's a commonsense approach because we want expansion teams to be strong teams."

The issue remains, however, where those players come from. Sorensen was a leading member of the Sanzar working party on expansion and eligibility and said there was a commitment from Melbourne that they would target Argentinian and Pacific players.

Leading player agent Bruce Sharrock, who has more than 200 New Zealand players on his books, said Melbourne would target players from around the world but it was inevitable some would come from this country.

He had already fielded calls from Melbourne about the type of players they were looking for and that moves for top players would intensify after the 2011 World Cup.

"I don't like Melbourne's chances of grabbing a starting All Black for 2011 but post-World Cup, they have every chance," Sharrock says.

"If there is a fringe All Black offered substantial money he might say, 'I will take the money and live three hours away from home in a pretty good city'."

Sharrock has petitioned the NZRU to open up the eligibility rules for All Blacks selection to allow players playing for Australian or South African Super franchises to be chosen.

"It's the same competition, same hemisphere and you will see them week in, week out. Why can't they be available for the All Blacks?"

It won't change in the foreseeable future. The NZRU and New Zealand Rugby Players' Association last month signed a new players collective which will see the status quo will remain for at least the next three years.

Sorensen said they were relaxed about losing New Zealand players overseas. "Of course they will have a crack at New Zealand players," he said. "We are so close and an obvious place to look.

"But we have to be mature about it. We can't react every time someone wants to give up their All Black aspirations and play offshore. It's all part of professional sport ... but we think we have done a pretty good job at keeping players here over the last two or three years."

Rugby league players Johnathan Thurston and Brett Finch have both been linked with Melbourne, as have Wallabies Berrick Barnes and Rocky Elsom.