English will miss this Kiwi guest

The mumblings and grumblings within English rugby at the growing number of overseas stars arriving are sufficiently known.

In the eyes of some, they're mercenaries, players interested only in lining their pockets for a pension fund, worn out by the Southern Hemisphere and wanting to clean up financially for a couple of years at the end of their careers.

In some cases, it has been true. But then you have the case of a player like Kiwi Andrew Blowers.

Not only has Blowers been an outstanding example to those around him at English Premiership club Northampton for his ultra-professional attitude and the quality of his preparation and play, he has even found time to get involved in a wonderful, non-rugby activity.

Blowers set up a charity in Northampton about 18 months ago to raise money for the poor, and for sick children. He and his wife, Gina, have organised fundraising events such as auctions, dinners and public appeals for unwanted clothing.

Last Christmas, for example, the couple asked people to donate spare winter clothing or food, and by the time the news had spread widely, two truckloads had been distributed.

Blowers and his mates from the Northampton club have also been regular visitors to hospitals in the region, particularly to the children's unit where many of the youngsters have cancer.

He seeks no plaudit for what he has done.

"It is always more pleasing to give than to receive," he says. "I always wanted to put something back into the community and help out the less fortunate local people."

Now, he has a new task. Blowers is leaving the English club after five years and is looking hard for someone to carry on the good work.

"We can leave something here for another player to get involved in, and we are looking for someone now."

Blowers, who was 30 in March, has been a superb servant to Northampton.

Former Australian World Cup-winning hooker Michael Foley, who is now forwards coach with English West Country club Bath, says that of all the players who have come to England from overseas in the past five years, he would probably choose Blowers as consistently the best.

At the time of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, Foley considered Blowers' absence from the All Blacks a crying shame, a complete waste of a player he believed to be one of the best backrow players in world rugby.

But of course the call never came. Was he disappointed?

"I knew the rules when I came here," Blowers said. "Of course, I would have loved to have been at the World Cup with the All Blacks.

"I believe the New Zealand selectors should be more flexible and look at different cases because players doing well overseas could add a lot to the All Blacks."

Now, Blowers is moving on, to the financially lucrative but playing backwaters of Japanese club rugby. He has signed a two-year contract to represent the Toyota Shokki club in Nagoya.

Why go now?

"I wanted to move on while I was still enjoying it here rather than leaving when Northampton didn't want me to stay. We could have stayed, the club wanted me to. But I have been here five years and it was time for a change.

"We are leaving with some great memories and we've made a lot of friends here."

It is Blowers' belief that quality of life and experiencing challenges ultimately means more than just accruing individual rugby caps or a stack of trophies.

It's not that he isn't ambitious, but he regards the overseas adventure which he and his family have so enjoyed as irreplaceable.

"You can't really put a price on seeing other countries and living in them. We felt our time in Britain was up, but it will be intriguing for all of us to experience life in Japan.

"And the other advantage of going there is that it is closer to home."

But before that, what of the Lions tour? Blowers has seen at first hand so many of the Lions players this winter but he highlights one factor that could prove critical.

"Of course, it will be tough for both sides in that test series. But I think the Lions might struggle because it has been such a long season up here in the Northern Hemisphere.

"These guys are playing so many games now, sometimes 30 or 35. I just think their bodies must be close to worn out after all they have done this season.

"Mentally, too, I suspect they are so tired and I just don't know how some of these guys do it.

"I think they will lack that vital spark, and if they lose the first test, it will be a very long tour," he said.

"When England won the World Cup in late 2003, their top players were back home playing European matches the Saturday after the final in Sydney. That's just crazy, and there is definitely a price to pay for that.

"When you are playing up here, you realise how tough it is because the season is a real marathon.

"If the Kiwis have got their build-up right and they are fresh, I think that will count at the end. Home advantage will be a big factor, too.

"There are a lot of things going for the All Blacks and, speaking personally, I would love to see New Zealand beat the Lions. I think if they play their game, they will.

"The weather will also play a big part, but if it's dry, we will be able to retain the ball and achieve fluency in our play.

"But we can play both ways now. I think the New Zealand forwards have improved and they should take a lot of heart from the way they beat France in Paris last November."

* Peter Bills is a rugby writer for Independent News and Media in London