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'I'm absolutely gutted': Plummer's move to France another costly blow for NZ Rugby
Stephen Foote • November 21st, 2024 10:00 am
Photo: Photosport
Blues fans woke to some unwelcome news on Thursday, with confirmation of Harry Plummer's imminent departure for France.
Plummer will be a part of the Blues' Super Rugby Pacific title defence next year, before heading north to France, where he's signed a three-year deal with Top 14 side ASM Clemont Auvergne.
The versatile 26-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024. He played a key role in the aforementioned Super Rugby crown, rewarded with call-up to firstly the All Blacks XV, then promotion to the All Blacks squad and a debut Test cap.
While Plummer appeared to be part of Scott Robertson's plans, he was only likely a fringe contender for the No. 10 jersey, with Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and the potential return of Richie Mo'unga to the fold from Japan further diluting his prospects.
That realisation is what would have driven Plummer's decision to make his move, which Israel Dagg describes as both hugely disappointing given the early stage of his career he's in, but also completely understandable.
"It absolutely guts me," Dagg said on Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
"Knowing that a young 26-year-old is going to leave before we've seen the best of him. But I'm not surprised.
"When you hear rumours like Richie Mo'unga is coming back, Beauden Barrett's playing at 10 at the moment, Damian McKenzie and Stephen Perofeta - I don't blame him at all.
"With the money that France have on offer for him and New Zealand Rugby, just with those names we mentioned, would not be able to keep him.
"I genuinely felt like he's a big part of the picture going forward. I'm gutted, but I don't blame him."
Sport Nation has landed | Scotty and Izzy
Plummer follows in the footsteps of Fergus Burke, another promising young talent who has decided at just 24 years old to leave New Zealand and pursue an opportunity in Europe, inking a three-year deal with London-based Saracens.
Off the back of his stellar year and an All Blacks appearance to his name, Plummer's value is the highest it's ever been.
And with Barrett now back in the Blues fold after his Japan sabbatical and Perofeta still in the mix, he stands to face even stiffer competition for minutes next season, which risks deflating those stocks and impacting his earning power, notes Scotty Stevenson.
"This is the moment for Harry Plummer to extract maximum value from any contract offer," he said.
"With Beauden Barrett coming back next year, if Plummer suddenly goes from being key for the Blues to being a bit part player in the set up next year - and I'm not suggesting that would happen, but it could - then his value just plummets.
"So, you've got to say, that's great timing from Harry Plummer. Not so much for New Zealand. It's another tough pill to swallow for those developing the talent here."
There's equal value on offer for Clermont, who may well have secured a player who's right on the cusp of breaking through to that next level before he's reached his prime, Dagg notes.
"Every team around the world is watching our product throughout Super Rugby, and even NPC, because they know there's a genuine opportunity to scoop up a young up-and-comer that potentially is on the brink of breaking through and get them for cheap.
"It's relatively cheap for them, but for young players in New Zealand, it's astronomically bigger than their current contracts, so it's going to continue to happen."
Listen to the full 'Deep Dive' below:
