Gear quits Blues, eyes Crusaders

By CHRIS RATTUE

Rico Gear has quit the Blues in a deal that will involve him joining Nelson Bays, and his fellow All Black Craig Newby might also link with a second-division side.

The 26-year-old Gear, who won his first All Black jersey against the Pacific Islanders this year, confirmed last night that he would leave Harbour and the Blues for the Crusaders.

The Gisborne-born Gear, a Harbour three-quarter for four seasons, moved a day before the deadline for players transferring provinces to join a different Super 12 franchise.

Harbour team-mate Newby might follow suit by joining tiny North Otago so he can move into the Highlanders' region. Gear and possibly Newby will be stuck in the second division next year, but can shift to their intended destinations - Canterbury and Otago - in 2006.

The New Zealand Rugby Union's assistant chief executive, Steve Tew, last night admitted unease about Gear's move, and had heard of the proposed Newby-North Otago deal.

Tew said players had the right to run their careers, but it could cause second-division imbalance, which was not desirable for leading players' careers or a good return on NZRFU investment.

The issue of fees also needed attention, he said.

"It has raised a few eyebrows and will cause discussions over the next few months."

Privately, many officials are describing it as a rort, especially as North Harbour stand to lose substantial fees.

But Gear's agent, Lou Thompson, is adamant that the shift does not breach rules to prevent Super 12 base provinces stockpiling All Blacks and using Super 12 selection as a lure.

Gear and Nelson Bays signed affidavits declaring that the promise of a Super 12 contract had not influenced his move, although Thompson said the Crusaders had talked to Gear, who will clearly be an automatic selection.

In other words, these things do not require words. The reality is that the rules are there to be bent, if not broken.

Gear and Newby are prevented from joining Canterbury and Otago next year because they have filled their one All Black import quota after signing Mose Tuiali'i and Nick Evans.

Newby could still move in a player swap between Harbour and Otago. But the Herald understands Otago have floated the idea of the rangy loose forward joining the Oamaru-based second-division team.

That would also save Otago - the Highlanders' base union - the $50,000 fee for an All Black shifting to a first-division province.

Second-division provinces are exempt from paying fees, to encourage former top players to remain in the game.

While these developments are dramatic now, it may not be long before they are irrelevant as top professionals play little or no part in the domestic competition. The NZRFU aims to extend the money-making All Black programme in a proposed global season, and have already agreed to expand the Super 12.

And on the day of Gear's shift, there were noises that England may agree to move the Six Nations to help create a global season.

For now, though, Nelson Bays are keen to trumpet Gear's arrival as indicating their first-division aspirations. Harbour chief executive Noel Coon was less buoyant.

"We're feeling a bit light in the pocket," he said, about missing the $50,000 fee for Gear.

It is understood Newby is in line for the Highlanders captaincy and tired of moving between North Harbour and Dunedin. He has the right to remain a Highlander having been drafted twice, but Otago and Newby want more permanency.

Gear feels the Crusaders offer his best path to the All Blacks. He was insecure about the Blues after the patchy campaign this year. Waikato came close to signing him.

"I'm looking at the next World Cup ... I've been in the Blues for a while but I've only really played because of injuries," Gear said.

"I still need to develop my game and Canterbury have about the best development system around and are in contention every year."