New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew supports All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's criticism of Australia's need to develop their own players.
Hansen started a debate between the trans-Tasman rivals after the All Blacks' 18-18 draw with the Wallabies in Brisbane last weekend when he asked if Australia's talent identification protocols were up to standard particularly for poaching New Zealanders.
This after Australia's New Zealand-born full-back Mike Harris contributed fifteen points to the Wallabies cause in Brisbane,
Harris and Australia Rugby Union CEO John O'Neill hit back, comparing Australia's "thefts'' to those by the NZRU in the Pacific Islands.
But Tew has backed Hansen saying there's a big difference between Harris' situation and the players of Pacific Island heritage in New Zealand.
"We've got a very clear conscience in terms of the players we have playing the game in this country," he told the New Zealand Herald.
"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 he didn't have a problem with New Zealand players moving Australia but what concerns him is that ARU is not doing enough to develop their own players and need to build on a local competition.
"They've got their own issues in Australia," he said.
"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."
Comments
tha_mai says...
Trinats2 - he watched the NZ and SA rugby coverage in Australia - that was his point.
Plainly too subtle for some.
ITM Cup is broadcast well beyond NZ - Sky UK, Setanta/Astro for all of Asia (for final tomorrow I have a choice of 4 channels), as is Currie Cup, French Top 14, Heineken Cup.
Nothing from Australia was his point if that is now plain enough for you.
Posted 13:50 26th October 2012
luv2h8 says...
Patron you are an utter mug. How can you say Burkina Faso is an exporter. fulgence ouedraogo moved to france when he was a little kid. Saying Samoa are importers and New Zealand Exporters is a farce. Collins, Masoe and Kaino all samoans who played for New Zealand.
Posted 13:30 26th October 2012
luv2h8 says...
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Posted 13:27 26th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
"They need to look very hard at the depth they have in their competition. There was a small irony that last weekend"
Not wrong, how ironic all this whinging and the make shift team with "no depth" prevented the ABs from getting a world record.
"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"
That's one channel, in NZ rugby is all you have. In Aus, there are many more sports channels with many more sports.
oh sorry, you have netball.
Posted 13:19 26th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Go back to what Hansen actually said - quote from the first PR article : "I am pleased he [Harris] has achieved his dream ... what I find frustrating is that Australia is trying to build their game and put more franchises in place but all they are doing is putting franchises in place and stealing our players. They should get their own house in order and develop their own. There must be players there good enough. Australia has been a breeding ground for gun players for centuries."
Read the Australian rugby forums and newspapers - there is more than enough criticism there aimed at ARU letting down 'they system' in terms of neglecting player development. Tactless Hansen's 100 words may have been - but hard to argue on the thought behind it.
But still, think he and Tew should focus on NZ and leave other countries to get on with their own teams.
Posted 12:55 26th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
the fact is mike harris' story is inspirational. and hansen grumbling about it is a disgrace and an embarrassment to AB supporters.
Posted 10:48 26th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
oh wow PR are you that moronic or did you just want to create a new false story? Tew is basically being realistic and diplomatic saying that because most of australia features many newzealanders from different backgrounds and newzealand features pacifica islanders from different backgrounds there is always going to this non "issue". Planet Rugby i suggest you take a look at the joke that is english rugby before trying to cast certain lights on australian or new zealand rugby backgrounds.
Posted 10:46 26th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well we all know his right about the ARU not doing enough to develop and indentify home grown talant They are most probible the worst union for doing that on the planet ,at least of the major nations anyway.I also stand by my prediction that in 5 yrs Australia will be struggling to be a top 10 nation in the IRB rankings .Because of the mismanagement by the ARU in this regard.
Posted 10:44 26th October 2012
Patron says...
IRB RWC Lottery PLayers
Importers
15: Samoa (all from New Zealand)
12: USA
11: Italy
10: Japan
9: Tonga
8: England
7: Australia, Scotland
5: Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Wales
4: Ireland, New Zealand
2: France, Russia
1: South Africa
0: Argentina, Georgia, Romania
Exporters
38: New Zealand
13: Australia, South Africa
6: Argentina, England
5: American Samoa, Samoa
4: Tonga
3: Fiji
2: Hong Kong, USA, Zimbabwe
1: Burkina Faso, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Scotland,
Posted 10:26 26th October 2012