‘Lessons learned’ from Nonu move
New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) boss Steve Tew on Friday said there had been "lessons learned" from Ma'a Nonu's controversial move from the Blues to the Highlanders.
Tew said that the Nonu saga, in which the All Black veteran turned his back on a two-year deal with Blues coach John Kirwan, was discussed by the NZRU hierarchy.
Tew explained that the 30-year-old had exercised an out-clause in his existing NZRU contract to effect the move that had previously been used to gain early releases for long-serving international players.
"The reality is franchise contracting is a topic covered under the collective bargaining process which started last week," said Tew. "Yes, we did discuss it at the board table.
"Is it a live issue that requires some thought? Yes. Where will it end? I don't know. We think there are significant upsides to the way we have changed the process around franchise contracting but there are some lessons we will learn on the way.
"We will review all consequences of the changes to the contracting process put in place. Overall we're very pleased with what it's done in terms of helping franchises take control of their own destinies.
"But there are some things we need to think about, and certainly the ability to move franchises within a New Zealand contract is something we need to give some thought to."
Tew also came out in support of All Black coach Steve Hansen’s comments that Australia should develop their own players instead of ‘poaching’ New Zealand talent.
He also defended New Zealand’s contracting of Pacific Island players after Australia Rugby Union chief John O'Neill suggested the All Blacks were guilty of raiding the islands of their top talent.
"We've got a very clear conscience in terms of the players we have playing the game in this country,'' he said.
"The vast majority of players across the board that play rugby in this country out of particularly Samoa, Tonga and to a lesser degree Fiji, are second, third and fourth generation New Zealanders.''
Tew said while he didn't have a problem with New Zealand players opting to head across the Tasman, is it imperative that the ARU start developing their own players and strengthen their domestic competition.
"They've got their own issues in Australia. They need to look very hard at the depth they have in their competition.
“There was a small irony that last weekend [in Brisbane] I watched three games of rugby coming out of New Zealand, when that finished the test started and when that finished the Currie Cup came on.
"The reality for us is that we want the global game to be strong so we have to accept the fact that our talent, whether it's players or coaches or for that matter anyone else who is involved in the game, will be sought after around the world.
"Ultimately there are over a million New Zealanders living overseas and a vast majority of them are living on the eastern seaboard of Australia so rugby players are no different.''
