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Why Sir Steve Hansen's stance on All Blacks eligibility for overseas players has softened
Stephen Foote • January 21st, 2025 10:00 am
Photo: Photosport
One of the most contentious talking points in New Zealand Rugby in recent years has been the topic of international eligibility - whether players competing in off-shore competitions should be allowed to be selected to play for the All Blacks.
It's a topic that has divided the nation between those who believe it’s' the only way to mitigate the drain of talent, and a staunch contingent who are adamant it would dilute the quality of the product across Super Rugby and the NPC.
But it appears that ongoing dialogue for change has had its impact on even the most vocal advocates to retain the status quo, with All Blacks coaching great Sir Steve Hansen admitting he sees a future where following in the footsteps of world champions South Africa and opening those borders could work.
The primary influence on that outlook has been Hansen's experience within Japanese rugby, where he's transitioned from Director of Rugby to head coach of Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One.
With the Land of the Rising Sun now rivalling Europe as the most popular destination for not only Kiwi players, but Kiwi coaches, the two-time World Cup winner believes there's a framework in place that would ensure a relatively seamless transition for players like Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell to be able to return home to pull on the black jersey when required.
"Just the ease of getting back from here (Japan) to New Zealand, the number of New Zealand coaches that are up here that the All Blacks or New Zealand Rugby could rely on and help facilitate the players returning back into New Zealand rugby for the All Blacks," Hansen explained to Sport Nation's Beaver & Guy.
Richie Mo'unga is now plying his trade in Japan I Photo: Supplied
"The communication that would be needed and the trust that would be needed around strength and conditioning programmes and those sorts of things. There's a heap of people and connections that can help.
"Those sorts of things say to you, that maybe it could work."
Hansen points out the rapidly growing resource of NZ coaches now based in Japan, reeling off a list that includes the likes of Jamie Joseph, Ian Foster - who he's now called in to join him at Kubota - Robbie Deans, Scott McLeod, and Tabai Matson, and Glenn Delaney.
Hansen adds there's also a significant contingent of South African coaches embedded in Japan who function as a kind of intermediary for their international union. That approach has allowed key Springboks based there, such as resigning World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit - who Hansen coaches at Toyota - and Damian de Allende, to also represent South Africa - and with unparalleled success.
Sir Steve Hansen takes a cheeky jab at Beaver | Beaver & Guy
Their back-to-back William Webb Ellis Cups are testament to how effective the model could be and understandably the most popular example for those endorsing an overhaul.
But for all of that broadened outlook, Hansen insists he remains fundamentally opposed to NZR changing its policy.
"Probably not as much as I used to be, but I'm still there, if that makes sense," he said. "I still worry about our own competition and our own development back home.
"We've got a competition in New Zealand that we've got to keep the integrity of. I think players have always known that if you go overseas you can't be selected and if you really want to play for the All Blacks, then you'll stay at home and play for them.
"I'm still probably keen on that idea - select from home first and foremost and keep the integrity of the competitions going."
Listen to the full interview:
