All Blacks: Steve Tew - We won't change selection policy

Four years ago, NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew threatened to pull out of this season's World Cup because of the financial restrictions imposed on member nations. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Steve Tew has all but shut the door on New Zealand Rugby following Australia's example and making it easier for players to move overseas and still represent their national team.

Only those who have played 60 tests for the Wallabies and seven years of Super Rugby or at international level will be permitted the Australia Rugby Union's long-service dispensation which is designed to strengthen their World Cup squad, and in particular, allow inside back Matt Giteau, currently playing for Toulon, a pathway back.

But Tew this morning said there was little chance of the same thing happening here, in the short term, at least.

"You never say never, but our policy is that to wear the All Black jersey you have to play your rugby in New Zealand," Tew told Radio Sport.

"We have treated some players I guess with a little bit of flexibility in terms of their return to the country when they've become eligible but the core policy is if you're not here you don't play for us and we think that's been a very important part of our player retention strategy and there's no immediate thought of changing that.

"Right now the player market is incredibly competitive - it's that time of the four-year cycle. We had quite a long discussion about it around the board table yesterday and we have no intentions of changing that policy but we're constantly reviewing what we're doing and if circumstances change we'd be foolish not to think about it but right now our policy is the policy and that's the end of it."

Meanwhile former Wales captain Dai Young has urged England to stick with their policy of only selecting home-based players for internationals, saying Wales' decision to pick stars at overseas clubs has "wrecked" regional rugby in his homeland.

"I've seen it from Wales, and it's done much more harm than good. England's stance is by far the best," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I've come through that system in Wales, and it certainly wrecked and put regional rugby under a hell of a lot of pressure," Young said.

Top nations that don't pick overseas based players
New Zealand - Don't pick overseas players.
England - Have had a policy in the past to select overseas players (four were in the 2011 RWC squad) but currently don't pick overseas players.

Top nations that do pick overseas based players
South Africa - Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana, Juandre Kruger, Gurthro Steenkamp and Jano Vermaak all play in France.
Australia - New rule means player must have 60 tests or seven seasons to their name.
Wales - Likes of veterans Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris, Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts play in France.
Scotland - Number of squad members based in France.
France - Have picked England-based players in the past.
Ireland - Johnny Sexton recently played for French side Racing Metro and was selected for Ireland.