Chance for Irish players to move to NZ?

FRANK QUINN of Emerald Rugby magazine writes:

IRISH players may soon have a better opportunity of plying their rugby trade with top rate New Zealand clubs. The new development, however, has its limitations. According to a press release from the New Zealand Rugby Union, the move is "a logical one."

New Zealand’s five Investec Super Rugby Franchises will be able to contract up to two foreign players, under a new foreign player policy approved by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Board.

New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew said the move to the new policy was a logical one but comes with restrictions to ensure that the right balance is maintained between adding to the competition and helping Franchises address their depth, while at the same time ensuring that Super Rugby continued to develop New Zealand players.

“We’re comfortable that we can achieve that and this gives some flexibility to Franchises in their recruitment and contracting as the new Investec Super Rugby competition develops.”

The policy includes some limitations for Franchises including meeting the “no equivalent New Zealand eligible player” threshold; no more than one foreign player in a specialist position across New Zealand (such as a tighthead prop or first five-eighth); and within a Franchise only one foreign player can be contracted in certain position areas such as prop or lock.

In the past, the approval for the contracting of foreign players has been granted only where exceptional circumstances have existed, such as a significant lack of depth at a particular position within a Franchise.

However the NZRU considers that selection of foreign players could assist in the development of New Zealand players and also has the potential to add excitement to the competition.

Pacific Island players are not treated as foreign players under this policy. The existing approach to the contracting of Pacific Islands players, whereby players from the Pacific Islands who are not eligible to play for New Zealand may be contracted to play for New Zealand Franchises if no equivalent New Zealand eligible player is available, remains. This recognises the special relationship that exists with the Pacific Islands and the contribution that Pacific Island players have made to Super Rugby.