Rugby: All Black Jersey No Longer Pride of New Zealand

The All Blacks jersey was once the pride of New Zealand. It was the dream of all young kiwi boys to be an All Black, but these days it’s a different story.

In recent years, All Blacks selectors have thrown the jersey to anyone who can catch a ball and make a tackle. It has been abused and players that aren’t up to the standard of most All Blacks have been playing, when really there have been much better players sitting on the side line.

Top New Zealand rugby players have chosen money over the All Black jersey, and the standard of rugby produced in the Air New Zealand Cup and the Super 14 has been affected. The NZRU lost over $4 million last year and will reportedly lose close to $5 million this year. 

The NZRU have enforced the rule that, players who leave the country and play overseas are not eligible to play for the All Blacks. With so many players leaving to play overseas, there are very few world-class New Zealand players still playing in the local tournaments. 

With the departure of players like Carl Hayman, who was regarded as the best prop in the world, the All Blacks have had to replace him with players that obviously aren’t the best New Zealand has produced. Now with talk that Daniel Carter, who is arguably the best player in the world leaving the country, that’s another jersey that is going to go to a player who isn’t the best player in their position.

New Zealand doesn't have the money available to pay the players the amount they could receive overseas, but the NZRU has to think of something to keep them in the country, and fast before New Zealand loses all of the world-class players they have produced.