Rassie Erasmus defends decision to select overseas-based players as All Blacks stick to strict New Zealand-only policy

In the world of rugby, national teams take different approaches when it comes to selecting players who play abroad.

Some teams, like the South African Springboks, embrace their overseas-based stars, while others, like the New Zealand All Blacks, have remained strict about only picking players who compete domestically.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s mastermind coach, has long recognized that SA Rugby simply doesn’t have the financial muscle to retain all its top talents within the country.

Instead of fighting a losing battle, he opted for a more flexible policy—one that allows players to earn lucrative contracts overseas while remaining eligible for national selection.

It’s a strategy that has paid off handsomely, contributing to the Springboks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023.

On the other hand, the All Blacks have stuck to a much more rigid approach.

If a player heads abroad, they wave goodbye to their international career—at least for the time being.

This long-standing rule has seen New Zealand lose out on elite talents, most notably flyhalf star Richie Mo’unga, who now plies his trade in Japan.

Jordie Barrett’s Move and an Unexpected Influence

Recently, another big name made the decision to take his skills abroad—Jordie Barrett, the versatile backline star.

He signed with Irish giants Leinster, a move that raised eyebrows given New Zealand’s unwavering stance on overseas-based players.

Interestingly, the All Blacks’ current head coach, Scott Robertson, admitted that he consulted former Springboks assistant coach Jacques Nienaber, who now works at Leinster, to get some perspective on the move.

“When Jordie came and said, ‘I’ve got an option for Leinster,’ we Zoomed in and talked through all the practicalities,” Robertson revealed.

“He would have most of the Six Nations off, he’d be well-coached, and I just had a catch-up with Jacques Nienaber.

He was really impressed with Jordie as a player and a man.”

This conversation, however, didn’t change Robertson’s stance.

If anything, it reinforced the idea that New Zealand’s strict selection policy should remain in place.

A Change of Heart for Robertson?

What makes this even more intriguing is that, just a few months ago, Robertson had hinted that he might push for a shift in policy.

At the time, he expressed concern about falling behind South Africa’s model, which allows for more experienced, well-managed players to contribute to the team well into their 30s.

“We don’t want to be a cycle behind or a couple of years behind,” he said in a media call.

“Professional rugby is always evolving. Let’s keep an open mind and see what’s next. I’ll definitely be presenting.”

But for now, it appears New Zealand Rugby is standing firm. Robertson believes the domestic system is still producing loyal and committed players, and he remains confident in the talent pipeline within the country.

Which Policy Works Best?

The contrasting approaches of South Africa and New Zealand continue to spark debate.

While the Springboks benefit from having a wider talent pool, the All Blacks maintain that keeping their best players in New Zealand ensures a strong and competitive domestic system.

Which policy is better? That depends on who you ask. Some argue that New Zealand’s rigid stance could cost them in the long run, while others believe South Africa’s approach could eventually lead to a weakened domestic rugby structure.

What do you think? Should the All Blacks start selecting overseas-based players, or is their current model the right way to go? Join the discussion in the comments or share your thoughts on social media!