All Blacks look to plug talent drain

New Zealand Rugby is set to consider selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks, tax breaks, and privately-funded contracts among other ideas in attempts to find a solution to plugging its player drain.

A report in New Zealand’s Herald On Sunday at the weekend revealed that the country’s governing body for the game is set to host a summit with stakeholders including agents to address increasing concerns around keeping players at home in the face of greater financial incentives from Northern Hemisphere clubs.

Player retention has long been a challenge for NZR as European and Japanese clubs plunder Kiwi resources, from All Blacks squad members through its five Super Rugby franchises and even, according to NZR chief executive Steve Tew in a recent interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, to schools athletes as young as 15.