Last Word On Rugby, by Scott Hornell.
News has just broken of yet another player signing for a foreign rugby club. English-born Piers Francis has joined the list of names who have opted to move hemispheres. What is of concern with Mid-Season player movements from NZ Rugby is fan misunderstanding and reticence toward those men.
With many players taking up lucrative overseas contracts, these mid-season player movements seem to be more distraction, than anything sinister. It may not occur over every signing, but a consensus is seen on social media reaction and in general news reporting ‘yet another one goes’. Crucially in this example [Francis], being four rounds into Super Rugby already, it has a distraction factor that might not occur during the off-season.
Mid-Season Player Movements from NZ Rugby
Very excited to be returning to the UK to join @SaintsRugby & opportunities ahead! The focus until then is with my @BluesRugbyTeam brothers. https://t.co/WH44VsBjbA
— Piers Francis (@piers_francis) March 21, 2017
Every player is key to the local game, all make the NZ game one of the strongest. For them, they are making a living from the sport; both men and women. So for them, considering and accepting an overseas contract is fortunate for them–but is unsettling to the team and their fanbase, when made public.
Piers Francis had just played first-pick number 10 for the Auckland Blues side, so is a leading figure. His future role was lauded when head coach Tana Umaga signed him from Counties-Manukau. The 26 year old, born in England was in competition to retain the starting spot with Ihaia West, so the public assumed that he is going to be ‘a Blue’ for sometime. Every public message was reinforcing his place. And then BOOM! he announces that he is leaving.
Importantly, he was seen as a player who could bring solidity to the Blues franchise–in a position of weakness in that side. Now, in announcing he will only play out this 2017 season, the continual ‘search goes on’. Possibly, fans reaction toward Francis now may in fact be negative. Believing he has jumped ship, back to English rugby.
That may only be a perception, but perception is key to pubic support, so it comes at a delicate time for the Auckland franchise.
Change at a Time Where the Blues Needed Solidarity
Apart from the troubles that the current performance of that team, disruption from such announcements will upset the team culture. Vision from television reports showed Francis being razed by his team mates during an interview (see below). Team banter is a special element of team sport, but you would hope that it does not reduce his emphasis on the group objectives.
Watch: The Blues video-bomb Sav's one-on-one with Piers Francis as stick for ditching them at season's endhttps://t.co/alJPc3JcGt pic.twitter.com/vrt8IvV4op
— 1News – Sport (@1NewsSportNZ) March 20, 2017
Francis writes his name on the growing list of players in 2017, who have chosen to sever their ties from New Zealand (NZ) Rugby:
- Tawera Kerr-Barlow
- James Lowe
- Aaron Cruden (off-season announcement)
- Steven Luatua
- Charlie Faumuina (off-season announcement)
Kerr-Barlow (26) appears to have been satisfied with his term in NZ Rugby, as have Cruden (28) and Faumuina (31). Luatua (25) on the other hand was a man who was on the end-of-year tour with the All Blacks. He might have pushed hard for a place in the squad to face the British and Irish Lions as well, with age on his side. Lowe (24) was on the cusp of selection, so their choices were confusing for admirers of those men’s long-term futures.
So with their decisions made, how many of those names will still be considered by Steve Hansen now?
All Blacks Selection Sacrificed for Offshore Contracts
Hansen has not publicly said that any player not signed long-term for NZ Rugby is ineligible for selection–but how does it influence the All Blacks goal setting? Could a one-off selection in June/July compromise other players development for The Rugby Championship program?
Those questions are being asked by the media, as well as by fans. Possibly, the fans understanding of selection leans towards ‘who is here long-term’ whereas the All Blacks will have depth here; short in other positions. So Cruden may still be selected in June, because of a shallow pool of quality first-fives. Not helped (in general) by more mid-season player movements.
While Francis was born in England, after several successful years, who knows what his All Black chances might have been.
A Problem Not Only in NZ Rugby
This issue affects all professional rugby environments–all professional sports. Last Word On Rugby do not want to portray a naive rugby public. After 20 years of professionalism, the reality is that players can earn more in three years offshore, than their entire NZ Rugby career. And like Kieran Read said; after Luatua signed offshore, “who would begrudge them [choosing to leave].”
And offshore, highly regarded Los Pumas player Facundo Isa has also made his choice. The Jaguares and Argentine number eight will play for Toulon after the 2017 Super Rugby season. A big loss, but more so because the national union had done well to combine the International talents into one franchise–after years of having their men taken away to France and England.
And recently Liam Williams has been one to take his talents farther from Welsh-based rugby. He chose to play for Saracens. While not a large distance, his move away from the Guinness Pro12 competition takes somewhat away from the Welsh influence of their localised players. How his availability impacts on his position is only to be seen, but in Europe the clubs are far more in control of player movements.
New Zealand has a centralized contract system, and has in place policy to never select overseas based players. That will not likely change either; for the good of the game in New Zealand. Players choosing to leave will then be at risk–if they do return–to ever regain a position high in NZ rugby.
Timing is the All Important Aspect
What LWOR does find contentious, is the timing. Any respectful sportsperson would want to commit fully to a season. From the opening whistle, to the final match, it is 100% for the club/franchise/country. No doubts there, but when more and more mid-season player movements occur, it can hurt the game.
Not only in rugby union. It is occurring more and more in rugby league, where fans and commentators too are finding it disingenuous.
Calls for a Transfer Window
And while the ability to negotiate at anytime is not controlled; like in Football or in American sport, many can see the benefits in restricting movement and announcements. The hope is that your players stay focused for the entire playing season. The only windows open to any movements are fixed, and would not be as contentious.
Even if they say ‘my agent worked hard to bring this deal together’ that player could appear to be insular in their thinking.
Just like in a game, the moment needs to be right. However, LWOR cannot hold it against players to ‘make the most of their skills’. It’s often said that their window-of-opportunity is limited. Earnings in Europe and Japan are more lucrative than Australia, South Africa, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand. And with a glut of talent, often those players are not bound to the sport, other than what their morals or beliefs tell them.
Men like Piers Francis, James Lowe or Steven Luatua make their choices. Their call. Supporters might prefer that the timing is well before the season begins, but the reality is that it is a part of professional rugby union. Like it or not; for some, the time to move on is when they take an opportunity. For fans, deep down they prefer that they wait until the season is over.
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Last Word On Rugby wishes all players the best for their final year in NZ Rugby, and all the best for their futures.
“Main photo credit”
