September 18, 2024 • 9 mins
There's been plenty of debate and speculation around the player eligibility terms for the All Blacks.
Professional Rugby and Performance General Manager Chris Lendrum joined D'Arcy to unpack the requirements.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going now to the rugby story de jeux actually
of the last few days. Chris Lendrum joins us as
there general manager of Professional Rugby Performance.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
We're talking to.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
You now, Chris about the state of play when it
comes to sabbaticals, when it comes to allowing people to
play outside of their contract, maybe taking some money overseas.
We'll see, we'll see how it goes it, joins us.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Welcome to the program, Chris. When it comes to eligibility
and of course the situation around sabbaticals. What's the current
stance where don't he set on rugby stand right now
in that space?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, we have the same policies and place that we've
had for some time now. Articles is obviously a talking
point from from time to time and those are still
I guess perks related to long service for our senior
players and so we're happy with how that works where
(01:25):
I suppose happy from the particularly from the perspective that
at lengthens players' careers in New Zealand, we believe and
also recognizes how much those players have given over a
long career in every case. Eligibility for the All Blacks
(01:45):
is something that I notice tends to come up occasionally
when the All Blacks lose. But you know, the rules
that we have in place at the moment are a
delicate balance. That's really important that our domestic competitions are
super rugby in particular as as strong and is filled
(02:09):
with New Zealand's best players as a general rule, and
so we've got no plans to change those eligibility rules
around All Black selection in the near future.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's something you consider though on a semi regular basis.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
No, No, not particularly, I think when there's occasionally been
some very minor exceptions to it, you know, players coming
back from overseas and going straight back into the All
Blacks rather than going through a domestic competition. But I
(02:46):
know that there are players off shore that fans believe
and probably some others believe it would be good enough
to play in the All Blacks right now. But we've
got an outstanding young team that's coming together at the moment.
What tends to happen when players pier offshore is that
(03:07):
still in the New Zealand system, somebody steps up and
lays a claim to the jersey that that player relinquished
or decided to move on to a different part of
their career. So we're really comfortable with how it's of course,
it's something that we monitor and talk about all the time,
(03:28):
but I don't really see any basis at the moment
for making change, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So there is exception on a rare case by case basis.
You're not exactly completely shut off to this concept. If
there is a driving force that works for everybody, you
will take it on board.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look, I think, I mean, I've got a massive amount
of respect for the people that have made comment in
the last few days. You mentioned justin highways. Listening closely
to Sonny, I think he's got a pretty unique perspective
on the world and I can see what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Look, there's been very, very minus exceptions that have been
made by the New Zealand Rugby Board in the past,
but the general rule and the general principle has always
been the same that we pick all blacks from New
Zealand's shores, and I think that's pretty important for the
strength of the whole game in New Zealand, and frankly,
(04:27):
if we get to a point where it does change RC,
then there's going to be some other issues that come
with that as well, and it probably will reflect other
issues also, And it might mean that the financial poll
of the game in New Zealand is not as strong
as it was. It might mean that players don't necessarily
(04:50):
prize the all black jersey as highly as they have historically.
And of course we do everything in our power, and
whether that's coaches, management, or players themselves, to make sure
the poll of that black jersey is super strong. And
that's our goal, is to get that feeling and that
sentiment to continue.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
There are outlies there always are that don't value that
all black jersey as much as others. I suppose you
look to people like back in the day Ma Fector
and Hayman and Pato. You just accept the fact there
are going to be players like that, but you simply
will not adjust to take into account the wills and
(05:31):
the whims of these players, because it's going to happen
from time to time.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, there's probably a couple of things there. I mean.
The first is that I wouldn't say that those players
value the all blacks jersey. I think you know, every
individual has different priorities, different needs, whether they're family needs
(05:57):
or personal needs or frankly, emotional needs, and so everyone's
got an individual outlock on life and their career and
then that's fine. You know, that's actually professional support. We've
had a very good young All Black leics defying the
(06:18):
knooker as an example, who was good enough to go
to Rugby World Cup last year. Had an exceptional tournament
when he played frankly for the All Blacks, but he'd
made a decision that at an early stayed in his career.
He wanted to sample what life was like offshore. And
you know the world is much more connected. There's much
(06:41):
greater opportunity for our young people in rugby now than
there war was twenty years ago, and sort of values
and decision making has shifted a bit, so we have
to monitor that. We have to work with that, and
that does mean that our policies and approaches evolved a
bit over time, but that at our core we are
(07:02):
about strong domestic competitions. We believe that the cohesion that
comes from having all of our players in New Zealand
it really supports performance of or Bix and our other
national teams.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
General Manager our professional rugby and performance. Chris Benjam joins us.
It's very much a global situation now, though, isn't it.
A number of nations have opted to behave in this manner,
and I expect, like my mother said to me, just
because everyone else does it doesn't mean to say you
have to do it either. Are you are tall swayed
(07:35):
by the success of nations that do indulge in this behavior.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I think your mother's very wise, Darcy. That's we've always
tried to lead in New Zealand and so just because
other people are doing it doesn't mean that it's right
for us. It's definitely a lot of communs and a
lot of thoughts swirling after South Africa have won the
last two World Cups.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Right with.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
The approach they've taken, there's a massive amount of context,
I think underpinning South Africa's position, and they simply can't
afford to have all of their best players play in
South Africa anymore. You know, there's a lot of beauty
in South Africa, but it's also a troubled country in
(08:21):
other ways. And I won't get sort of political on
you at all, but economically it's a country that's struggling
and so the fourths at work there are far stronger
actually than a New Zealand's case at the moment. And
(08:43):
they've also got a group they're very senior, experienced group
of players that have played a huge amount of rugby together.
They have played historically, are pretty familiar, tight brand of
rugby that's easier for their players to come back to,
(09:04):
even if they're based in all corners of the world
and quickly get on the same page about I think
there's a massive amount of difference between say South Africa's
example and New Zealand's and we should take our head
off to South Africa for adapting to their conditions and
winning two World Cups as much as it pains me
(09:27):
to say that in one way, but it just doesn't
mean that it's right for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
The right call is your call On eight eighty Sports
Talk all on your home of Sports News Talks EDB.
It's for more from Sports Talk. Listen live to News
Talks EDB from seven pm weekdays well follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going now to the rugby story de jeux actually
of the last few days. Chris Lendrum joins us as
there general manager of Professional Rugby Performance.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
We're talking to.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
You now, Chris about the state of play when it
comes to sabbaticals, when it comes to allowing people to
play outside of their contract, maybe taking some money overseas.
We'll see, we'll see how it goes it, joins us.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Welcome to the program, Chris. When it comes to eligibility
and of course the situation around sabbaticals. What's the current
stance where don't he set on rugby stand right now
in that space?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, we have the same policies and place that we've
had for some time now. Articles is obviously a talking
point from from time to time and those are still
I guess perks related to long service for our senior
players and so we're happy with how that works where
(01:25):
I suppose happy from the particularly from the perspective that
at lengthens players' careers in New Zealand, we believe and
also recognizes how much those players have given over a
long career in every case. Eligibility for the All Blacks
(01:45):
is something that I notice tends to come up occasionally
when the All Blacks lose. But you know, the rules
that we have in place at the moment are a
delicate balance. That's really important that our domestic competitions are
super rugby in particular as as strong and is filled
(02:09):
with New Zealand's best players as a general rule, and
so we've got no plans to change those eligibility rules
around All Black selection in the near future.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's something you consider though on a semi regular basis.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
No, No, not particularly, I think when there's occasionally been
some very minor exceptions to it, you know, players coming
back from overseas and going straight back into the All
Blacks rather than going through a domestic competition. But I
(02:46):
know that there are players off shore that fans believe
and probably some others believe it would be good enough
to play in the All Blacks right now. But we've
got an outstanding young team that's coming together at the moment.
What tends to happen when players pier offshore is that
(03:07):
still in the New Zealand system, somebody steps up and
lays a claim to the jersey that that player relinquished
or decided to move on to a different part of
their career. So we're really comfortable with how it's of course,
it's something that we monitor and talk about all the time,
(03:28):
but I don't really see any basis at the moment
for making change, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So there is exception on a rare case by case basis.
You're not exactly completely shut off to this concept. If
there is a driving force that works for everybody, you
will take it on board.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look, I think, I mean, I've got a massive amount
of respect for the people that have made comment in
the last few days. You mentioned justin highways. Listening closely
to Sonny, I think he's got a pretty unique perspective
on the world and I can see what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Look, there's been very, very minus exceptions that have been
made by the New Zealand Rugby Board in the past,
but the general rule and the general principle has always
been the same that we pick all blacks from New
Zealand's shores, and I think that's pretty important for the
strength of the whole game in New Zealand, and frankly,
(04:27):
if we get to a point where it does change RC,
then there's going to be some other issues that come
with that as well, and it probably will reflect other
issues also, And it might mean that the financial poll
of the game in New Zealand is not as strong
as it was. It might mean that players don't necessarily
(04:50):
prize the all black jersey as highly as they have historically.
And of course we do everything in our power, and
whether that's coaches, management, or players themselves, to make sure
the poll of that black jersey is super strong. And
that's our goal, is to get that feeling and that
sentiment to continue.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
There are outlies there always are that don't value that
all black jersey as much as others. I suppose you
look to people like back in the day Ma Fector
and Hayman and Pato. You just accept the fact there
are going to be players like that, but you simply
will not adjust to take into account the wills and
(05:31):
the whims of these players, because it's going to happen
from time to time.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, there's probably a couple of things there. I mean.
The first is that I wouldn't say that those players
value the all blacks jersey. I think you know, every
individual has different priorities, different needs, whether they're family needs
(05:57):
or personal needs or frankly, emotional needs, and so everyone's
got an individual outlock on life and their career and
then that's fine. You know, that's actually professional support. We've
had a very good young All Black leics defying the
(06:18):
knooker as an example, who was good enough to go
to Rugby World Cup last year. Had an exceptional tournament
when he played frankly for the All Blacks, but he'd
made a decision that at an early stayed in his career.
He wanted to sample what life was like offshore. And
you know the world is much more connected. There's much
(06:41):
greater opportunity for our young people in rugby now than
there war was twenty years ago, and sort of values
and decision making has shifted a bit, so we have
to monitor that. We have to work with that, and
that does mean that our policies and approaches evolved a
bit over time, but that at our core we are
(07:02):
about strong domestic competitions. We believe that the cohesion that
comes from having all of our players in New Zealand
it really supports performance of or Bix and our other
national teams.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
General Manager our professional rugby and performance. Chris Benjam joins us.
It's very much a global situation now, though, isn't it.
A number of nations have opted to behave in this manner,
and I expect, like my mother said to me, just
because everyone else does it doesn't mean to say you
have to do it either. Are you are tall swayed
(07:35):
by the success of nations that do indulge in this behavior.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I think your mother's very wise, Darcy. That's we've always
tried to lead in New Zealand and so just because
other people are doing it doesn't mean that it's right
for us. It's definitely a lot of communs and a
lot of thoughts swirling after South Africa have won the
last two World Cups.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Right with.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
The approach they've taken, there's a massive amount of context,
I think underpinning South Africa's position, and they simply can't
afford to have all of their best players play in
South Africa anymore. You know, there's a lot of beauty
in South Africa, but it's also a troubled country in
(08:21):
other ways. And I won't get sort of political on
you at all, but economically it's a country that's struggling
and so the fourths at work there are far stronger
actually than a New Zealand's case at the moment. And
(08:43):
they've also got a group they're very senior, experienced group
of players that have played a huge amount of rugby together.
They have played historically, are pretty familiar, tight brand of
rugby that's easier for their players to come back to,
(09:04):
even if they're based in all corners of the world
and quickly get on the same page about I think
there's a massive amount of difference between say South Africa's
example and New Zealand's and we should take our head
off to South Africa for adapting to their conditions and
winning two World Cups as much as it pains me
(09:27):
to say that in one way, but it just doesn't
mean that it's right for New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
The right call is your call On eight eighty Sports
Talk all on your home of Sports News Talks EDB.
It's for more from Sports Talk. Listen live to News
Talks EDB from seven pm weekdays well follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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