Rugby: Henry irked by young talent heading offshore

All Blacks coach Graham Henry. Photo / Getty Images

All Black coach Graham Henry is annoyed that young players surrender their international rugby chances for large offshore contracts.

That exasperation shone through yesterday as Henry applauded Keven Mealamu's decision to sign on for another two years of rugby in New Zealand.

Mealamu is 32 and joins a growing list of senior players who have signed on past the World Cup, content to develop his business, family and personal interests in New Zealand instead of chasing contracts in Europe.

The 83-test All Black felt uneasy about moving overseas. "This is a special place and I thought it would be hard to play for any other team," he said yesterday.

As the conversation shifted, Henry revealed how disturbed he was at the exit of players on the verge of international selection.

"It irritates me the guys under the All Black group who have a dream about being an All Black for 25 years and then all of a sudden they get offered $500,000 and bugger off and don't carry on and fulfil the dream."

He could not understand why players would leave New Zealand when they were so close to their sporting goals.

He was irritated they chose to fill their bank accounts rather than continuing the pursuit of their All Black goals.

Henry did cackle though when asked about his decision to leave for a multimillion-dollar deal to coach Wales before returning to win the All Black job in 2004. He was more concerned about players.

"There are guys I know who have gone overseas and regretted it immensely," he said.

"Often it is their partners' pressure, they want to go and do an OE and get over there and think 'oh Jesus, it's not so nice over here after all'. So the grass is not always greener.

"That does irritate me, the young guys who have had a dream for 15 to 20 years, give up the dream because they get offered some big money to go to Ireland or France or somewhere, and they finish up regretting it."

Henry did not believe a significant number of All Blacks would leave after this year's World Cup but he was concerned about the impending departures of those close to making the All Black squads.

So far a group of forwards - Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Daniel Braid, Liam Messam, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Sam Whitelock, Ben Franks, Tony Woodcock, Hika Elliot, and Mealamu - have signed on for next year and beyond.

Israel Dagg, Conrad Smith, Aaron Cruden and Jimmy Cowan are backs who have chosen to play on but a number of senior players have yet to reveal their intentions.

Those include captain Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Ma'a Nonu, Brad Thorn and Andrew Hore.

Those experienced All Blacks had done a great job for the team and he hoped that would continue.

"It is those who have not done that and are walking away without fulfilling the dream, that concerns me," Henry said.