Sam Cane is the latest to float the idea of opening up All Blacks’ eligibility to New Zealanders playing for overseas clubs.
Cane, the current All Blacks captain who was sent off during last month’s Rugby World Cup final in Paris, made the comments during his unveiling as a Tokyo Sungoliath player alongside former foe Cheslin Kolbe, the Springboks wing.
Cane, 31, will play in the Japanese Top League rather than for the Chiefs in next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season. He will return to be available for the All Blacks for the July Tests against England and Fiji under new head coach Scott Robertson.
“A lot of the Springboks have shown the ability to play in the Top League and go back to international rugby fairly quickly and continue playing their best,” Cane said.
“I think the challenge for us guys on the shorter-term deals hoping to return to international rugby again is that we play really well here and get back and, should we get the opportunity to play for the All Blacks again, show we have improved or kick off where we left off.
“If we can do that then that could be a conversation for New Zealand Rugby. I can also see the other side – the fact of having experienced players helping to bring through young guys in the New Zealand game is equally important. Obviously, a lot to consider and way above my pay grade.”
Robertson has previously spoken about being open to a change in All Blacks' eligibility rules but it would take a huge shift in New Zealand Rugby’s thinking because a direct consequence would be the dilution of Super Rugby.
In a statement this afternoon, New Zealand Rugby said: “The existing criteria remains a key foundation of New Zealand rugby’s legacy and success. The current criteria enables senior, long-serving players - in both the men’s and women’s game - the opportunity to play overseas and then return to New Zealand as part of a long-term commitment.
"NZR continues to look at ways to maintain the competitiveness of competitions and national teams globally. Any significant change to the criteria is not foreseeable in the short term and would require significant consultation with all our stakeholders.”
Given Cane’s overseas “sabbatical” and change of coach, it is possible he will lose the All Blacks captaincy, but Robertson has said no decisions have been made. Ardie Savea and Scott Barrett are other options, with the latter, Robertson’s most recent captain at the Crusaders, the favourite.
Cane said he had spoken to Robertson before his departure.
“We had a good chat, a long chat, on the phone before I left, talking about lots of things,” he said.
“Going forward and playing for the All Blacks, you have to earn that by playing well every week. I know the All Blacks coaches will be keeping an eye on some of the boys over here. The sole focus will be to play well, try to improve and hopefully have the opportunity to play for the team again.
“I think it will test me as a rugby player in a lot of the areas I want to get better in – speed and agility are required in this league so it will test me to evolve my game.”
Of playing alongside speedster Kolbe, Cane said: “It will be nice to have him on my team instead of running around trying to catch him.”
Cane is part of a big group of Kiwis playing in Japan – Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell have joined Toshiba, with Savea, Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett also there, along with an old Super Rugby rival of Cane’s.
Asked who he was most looking forward to playing against, Cane said: “Hopefully Dane Coles is playing for Kobota in round one. Hopefully we can go up against each other.”
Sungoliath has a connection with the Chiefs, with Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie also having played for them.
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