NZers aplenty in European rugby 

Europe's major rugby competitions will kick-off on Friday, highlighting the drain of talent from this country with 33 former top quality New Zealand players in action.

Of those 33, 18 are former All Blacks and 15 have played NPC or Super 12 in the last two years.

The number of New Zealanders playing in England's premiership, the Celtic league and the French championship, has been causing the New Zealand Rugby Union headaches since the game went professional.

Some English rugby bosses believe the heavy recruitment of Kiwi talent is having a detrimental impact on the development of the England rugby team, too.

Last week, Wasps chief executive David Davies took a swipe at Northampton, who he said are ignoring homegrown talent in favour of hiring big-name foreign stars.

Northampton signed Carlos Spencer and Sam Harding for this season and also have Bruce Reihana, Mark Robinson and Matt Lord on their books, as well as South Africans Pat Bernard and Selborne Boom.

Davies said: "I don't agree with the line Northampton have adopted which is to effectively say 'stuff the national team, I'm going to pick a team of strolling minstrels'.

"I am very depressed about Northampton's approach and I'll be even more depressed if they win something."

From a New Zealand perspective, the high numbers of Kiwis in Europe emphasises the importance of the soon-to-be-signed player collective agreement. It is understood the new deal will offer all NZRU-contracted players higher guaranteed payments - a tool deemed vital in helping persuade players to stay in New Zealand.

Both the NZRU and the Professional Rugby Players' Association are hoping that greater numbers of players will be prepared to stay in New Zealand if they are offered more security and certainty of income.

While most of the New Zealanders playing in Europe are earning significantly more than they were, many would have stayed here if their salary was not directly linked to selection.

Most professionals in New Zealand recognise the higher standard of football, the high priority placed on player welfare and the higher quality of life. But when their income depends on making Super 12 and All Black squads, many choose Europe because they are guaranteed a salary regardless of how they perform.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said: "There is no way in the world we'll ever be in a position to stop all the players who want to travel from going overseas. They travel for a variety of reasons, not all of which are about money. What we're mindful of is that we are sitting round the table with expectations of a new collective agreement structure that'll be in the best interests of the professional players and the NZRU."

While it will pain many Kiwi rugby fans to see the likes of Spencer, Justin Marshall, Reihana, Mark Robinson and Daryl Gibson - players still eminently capable of gracing the All Blacks - turning out for English club sides, the continued exodus of lesser-ranked players is also a significant problem.

Before the third Lions test, All Black coach Graham Henry said it was the loss of young, quality club players who may have the potential to develop into All Blacks that was concerning him.

It's estimated that as many as 5000 New Zealanders, who never quite made the NPC, or had limited exposure to it, will play for minor European club sides this weekend.

A number of relatively unknown players who failed to make a mark in New Zealand, went on to better things overseas.

East Coast Bays stalwart Cameron Mather won 10 Scottish caps and Glenn Metcalfe won 41 caps after failing to make headway at Waikato.

Mike Mullins struggled to get a game for North Harbour but won three Irish caps and was integral to Munster's backline and openside Andy Ward left New Zealand as an unknown and went on to represent Ireland and captain Ulster.

"There's an irony to the number of Kiwis who pop up in international sides," Tew said. "Would they have been good enough to have played for the All Blacks if they stayed here? Certainly they'd have been valuable in the NPC and that's why we're spending $20 million on community rugby, to make it easier to coach, referee and play."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY