Elliott Smith: Sabbaticals are a fact of life now in New Zealand Rugby

So Jordie Barrett is staying, but also going. Staying till 2028 but leaving next year for a sabbatical.

This sabbatical is slightly different.

Going to Leinster. United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster, European Rugby Champions Cup favourites Leinster. Bit different to going over to Japan for a pay check. Yes he’ll be getting a sizeable pay check from Leinster but I believe Jordie when he says it’s about becoming a better player. I believe when he says he wants to learn about different refereeing, coaching and styles of play.

That can only be a good thing. Learning how to break down different defences, adapting to different coaching and refereeing. Immersing yourself in their style. Right in the peak of his career.

Sabbaticals are a fact of life now in New Zealand. 

Mo, I don’t particularly like that the Hurricanes are without Ardie Savea this year and Jordie Barrett next year. That’s not good for Super Rugby. But I don’t think we’ll ever get the answer or solution to that. It does make the competition weaker, but the horse hasn’t just bolted on that it’s almost died of old age. Dan Carter was the first ‘sabbatical’ in 2009 and that was 15 years ago.

It could be worse with Jordie, he could have left entirely.

So often we talk of New Zealand losing Rugby IP abroad – this time Jordie is heading over to learn some of Ireland and Leinster’s.

It feels to me it’s more about OE, than money.

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