Stunted growth as All Blacks take Premiership Gold

/ Editor / 09 December 2007 / Leave a Comment

Alsy questions whether the influx of stars from the south will be detrimental to Northern hemisphere rugby

"These foreigners come over here and take our jobs." You might think that this imaginary quote came from Alf Garnett, a headline-seeking politician or Morrissey's recent NME interview but in fact my crude paraphrasing refers to the latest endangered species in the UK - the professional sportsman.

In football, UEFA President Michel Platini has complained that too many foreign players ply their trade in the Premiership and now it's the turn of outgoing IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar, to take a swipe at the latest wave of rugby foreign imports.
"For us, it is not very good to have all these foreign players in Europe," said Millar. "How are we going to develop our own players? We're denying opportunities to British players. You have the example of the English soccer team. It's a huge problem and we've got to be very careful."

Argentina's best players have been playing in France for many years, in addition to scores of Pacific Islanders. Factor in an average of three South Africans at top teams in France and you begin to understand the issues. Millar's warning is clear - Rugby Union, the last bastion of Corinthian sporting principles, is under attack from players migrating from the South. So which players number among this invading horde ready to shove aside any budding Jonny Wilkinson obstructing access to their Ferrari?

All Blacks Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Rico Gear, Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister have all decamped to Guinness Premiership teams after the World Cup. The talent of South Africa fly-half Butch James is also on show while the Magners League can now boast a fresh crop of stars in the shape of Doug Howlett and Marty Holah.

New Zealand only select players from domestic clubs so have these Kiwi imports put club, career and cash before country? It's by no means a new phenomenon but never before have so many current All Blacks turned their collective back on the fabled black shirt. Are these invaders a danger to the future success of England rugby and should we be concerned by their lack of loyalty to their respective home nations?

In truth the invasion isn't quite as dramatic as it may seem. Figures show that the current level of English players in the Premiership has remained constant at 65% for the last decade. In that time England has reached two World Cup finals, claiming victory once. Rather than herald a doomsday scenario, the World Cup proved that rugby can command a global audience and the recent influx of foreign stars is a reflection of the burgeoning wealth in Northern Hemisphere rugby. Wages have improved to the point where many top players will happily accept the offer.

James will be earning his money at Bath who you can back to at [14.0] to win the Premiership. Falcons tight head prop, Hayman, is allegedly the highest paid player in the Premiership and he'll need to be superhuman to help Newcastle [80.0] make a significant impact this season. Saracens [8.4] recruited lock Chris Jack and look best placed to offer some Premiership silverware opportunities to their latest ex-All Black.
But rather than accuse players of a lack of loyalty perhaps the IRB should come to terms with the global economics associated with their sport. Firstly amateur status was rescinded, then Rugby League players became transfer targets and now the world's best players are flying north where they can maximise their earnings.

In New Zealand, the conveyor belt of rugby talent will ensure that the All Blacks remain the team to beat in the international game while Argentina's World Cup performance proves that talented exiles can still produce flowing rugby. In the meantime Northern Hemisphere teams will grow stronger, audiences will increase and players like Haymans and Howlett will hopefully provide performances worthy of their wage packets - if not, the global market will see them replace by the next generation of Southern Hemisphere talent.

Is this foreign invasion really the beginning of the end for rugby? Personally, I doubt it.