Todd Blackadder believes New Zealand Rugby will struggle to stop its biggest stars from taking lucrative overseas deals between World Cups.
The former Crusaders coach says the trend is only growing, with elite All Blacks increasingly heading to Japan before returning home in time to push for World Cup selection.
That pattern has already played out with Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell, who joined Blackadder at Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo after the 2023 World Cup and are now expected to return to New Zealand ahead of the 2027 tournament.
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Ardie Savea has also spent time in Japan during the current World Cup cycle.
New Zealand Rugby still prevents the All Blacks coach from selecting overseas-based players full-time – unlike the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus, who has embraced foreign-based selections since 2018.
Critics argue that competitions like Japan Rugby League One do not offer the same intensity as international rugby.
Blackadder disagrees.
“When you’ve got elite players playing at the highest level, they don’t drop their standards,” he said on the DSPN podcast.
“Ardie Savea is a class performer. He’s not going to drop his standards just by changing competitions, nor will the likes of Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo’unga.”
Blackadder also pointed to former All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick as another example of a player whose standards never dip regardless of where he plays.
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Mo’unga and Frizell are set to return to New Zealand next season, boosting the player pool for future All Blacks selection.
But Blackadder warned that New Zealand Rugby must carefully balance its eligibility rules as the overseas pull continues to grow.
“For New Zealanders wanting to come home to play for their beloved team, it can only be a positive,” he said.
Photo: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
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Todd Blackadder believes New Zealand Rugby will struggle to stop its biggest stars from taking lucrative overseas deals between World Cups.
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