The trend is decisive - players are happy now to play their Super Rugby in one part of the country and shift somewhere else for the ITM Cup. But whether this situation will reverse as Super Rugby sides take greater independent control of their development programmes is interesting. They may access bigger budgets if private investment is allowed.
The Chiefs will make a fascinating case study. It was six years ago their board struck upon the plan to emulate the Crusaders and build Waikato into the commanding province of the region - then flow that through to the Chiefs. Everyone was sure that the Crusaders' success was partly a result of only having one serious province in the catchment area.
Now the Chiefs have a title and a squad that looks set to be dominant for some time and the influence of Waikato has been massively reduced.
What makes it even harder to fathom is that Waikato were finalists in both 2010 and 2011.
Some of the dilution has been driven by the background of the coaching staff; Dave Rennie arrived after four seasons with Manawatu, which is why he signed Aaron Cruden, Mike Fitzgerald and Asaeli Tikoirotuma. Assistant coach Tom Coventry was co-coach at Hawke's Bay - hence Brodie Retallick, Kane Thompson, Ben Tameifuna, Andrew Horrell and Maritino Nemani's inclusion. The coaches were drawn to players they knew but future success depends on ensuring Waikato is operating at full potential in talent identification and development.
Just because players are able to spread themselves geographically doesn't mean they should be encouraged. Every Super Rugby side will be missing an easy trick if they don't have strong links with their "host" province.
"Ideally I would like to see our players push through to Super Rugby contracted to the Chiefs," says Waikato coach Chris Gibbes.
"Central contracting means that won't always be the case but we have good relationships with the Chiefs coaches and open and honest communication with them about what they are looking for, what they want and where various players are sitting on their radar."
A few gaps have opened in the Chiefs' playing roster, with Sona Taumalolo, Thompson, Scott Waldrom and Sonny Bill Williams all departing. There may be a few other casualties - those on the fringes who the coaches remain unsure about - and the vacancies will most likely be filled by those players who impress in the ITM Cup.
Charlie Ngatai has been signed by Waikato, instantly increasing their representation at the Chiefs next year and there are high hopes in the region for age-grade stars prop Fraser Armstrong, hooker Marcus Hanley and last year's New Zealand Secondary Schools fullback Joe Webber.
Developing these players is important, says Gibbes. "But first and foremost the ITM Cup is about winning," he says. "Winning is still the most important part of the process."
Waikato have come up one game short in the last two years and maybe if they can go one better, that will be reflected in the number of players they have promoted to the Chiefs.
