Rugby: Move a no-no for Nonu

There's talk of tension between coach Mark Hammett and players including Ma'a Nonu. Photo / Getty Images

Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu hold the key to assessing just how much tension is in the Hurricanes camp.

Speculation has swirled in recent weeks that new coach Mark Hammett is struggling to build functional relationships with senior players - most notably Andrew Hore. There is also talk of issues with Nonu and Weepu.

Most of it has been dismissed by coach and captain but there is little doubt there has been robust debate behind closed doors. The Hurricanes have lost their shape and confidence and have seemed uncertain about how they want to play.

Cory Jane has intimated that Hammett's desire to impose more structure has been at the root of the problem - with too many of the Hurricanes used to a free-wheeling play-what-you-see philosophy.

The New Zealand Rugby Union have made it clear they are going to retain Hammett. It is also looking increasingly unlikely that Hore will be at the Hurricanes next season.

The 33-year-old has an offer from the NZRU and Agen in France are also keen to sign him. Hore is more interested in staying but the Hurricanes want to promote Dane Coles next season and give him the starting role. It hasn't been said explicitly yet but clearly Hammett also wants to start afresh with a new captain.

Many of the other senior Hurricanes have also confirmed they will be moving on. Neemia Tialata and John Schwalger are off to France, Rodney So'oialo is heading to Japan and Jane is expected to head offshore, too.

Of the old guard, Nonu, Weepu and Hosea Gear are undecided where their respective futures lie. Gear is expected to re-sign with the NZRU and stay with the Hurricanes.

Nonu and Weepu, though, are taking their time to make decisions. Both are wanted offshore - Nonu by Montpellier and others; while Weepu could be a target for Stade Francais who are looking for a halfback and are not sure whether Byron Kelleher is the one they want.

Nonu and Weepu have also been targeted by the Highlanders who, despite being the poorest franchise in terms of overall budget, actually have the most to spend on big-name players. Other than Jimmy Cowan and Adam Thomson and possibly Tom Donnelly, none of their players will be on the maximum retainer a franchise can pay of $180,000.

Financially at least Nonu and Weepu would be well looked after by the Highlanders. They also know coach Jamie Joseph well, having played for him while he was at the helm of Wellington.

But do they want to leave the Hurricanes? They have been fiercely loyal in the past. Nonu has had several offers to leave over the years and has never been particularly interested.

Weepu, too, was hunted hard by the Blues at the end of 2009 and decided against moving north. Then he had a solid offer from Perpignan this time last year and again didn't fancy it. Wellington is his home and he, like Nonu, feels loyalty to the franchise.

Both are seasoned internationals, Nonu in particular has the ability to dominate at Super Rugby and break games open. At times, both men would admit to being a little difficult to manage but whatever occasional issues come up with them off the field are easily outweighed by what they deliver on it.

Given that both are understood to want to stay in New Zealand next year and both want to play for the Hurricanes, it would say a huge amount if that outcome is not the one eventually reached.

If one or either leaves at the end of this year it would suggest the problems with Hammett are deeper than anyone is admitting at the moment.

The last big-name player to leave a franchise unhappily was Ali Williams. He joined the Crusaders in 2008 when his relationship with then Blues coach David Nucifora irretrievably broke down. Williams felt he had no choice but to move south.

Hammett is almost certainly staying on so the decisions of Weepu and Nonu will provide the final evidence as to how much of a problem there really is at the Hurricanes.