Former Highlanders and Scotland star Brendan Delaney believes the All Blacks jersey has lost its aura and has urged New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to review its eligibility rules.<\/p>\n
There has been lots of debate about NZR\u2019s eligibility rules as it currently prevents New Zealanders, who are plying their trade abroad, from representing the All Blacks unless they are granted a sabbatical by the governing body.<\/p>\n
Former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson initially urged NZR\u2019s policymakers to keep an open mind on their eligibility rules, but the governing body revealed that they would not be changing their policy regarding the selection of overseas-based players for the All Blacks anytime soon.<\/p>\n
Although he was relieved of his duties as All Blacks boss earlier this year, Robertson had a change of heart on player eligibility in 2025 and was supporting NZR\u2019s policy of not selecting overseas-based players.<\/p>\n
Dave Rennie keen to select Brodie Retallick for All Blacks again<\/p>\n
However, Robertson\u2019s successor, Dave Rennie, also raised the topic of selecting overseas-based players shortly after he was appointed when he revealed that he is keen to recall legendary All Blacks<\/a> lock Brodie Retallick, who is based in Japan at the same club that Rennie is currently coaching, Kobelco Kobe Steelers.<\/p>\n It will be difficult for Rennie to achieve that goal under NZR\u2019s current eligibility rules.<\/p>\n Despite the lure of playing for the All Blacks, several players who have represented the men in black at Test level, as well as those viewed as potential internationals, have decided to leave New Zealand to join overseas-based clubs in recent months.<\/p>\n On Monday, it was confirmed that highly rated Hurricanes back-row Devan Flanders will leave the Wellington-based outfit at the end of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign to join a Japanese club.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Blues will also part ways with All Blacks loose forwards Hoskins Sotutu and Dalton Papali\u2019i later this year to further their respective careers with Newcastle Red Bulls and Castres.<\/p>\n All Blacks have been through these \u2018patches before\u2019 as legendary coach rues the \u2018chipping away\u2019 of the jersey\u2019s lure<\/a><\/p>\n It was also revealed in recent weeks that another Hurricanes star and All Blacks prospect, winger Fehi Fineanganofo, who is Super Rugby Pacific\u2019s leading try-scorer, has also signed a deal with PREM strugglers Newcastle.<\/p>\n Laney<\/a>, who shone at full-back for the Highlanders before representing Scotland in 20 Tests between 2001 and 2004, feels the trend of players leaving New Zealand to play overseas will continue unless NZR changes its eligibility rules.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the pull of the All Black jersey is what it was 20 years ago,\u201d he told Newstalk ZB.<\/p>\n \u2018Something that we certainly need to look at\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019ve got an opportunity like these guys have in front of them to go play rugby overseas, maybe have that opportunity to play Test rugby \u2026 it\u2019s something that we certainly need to look at and be more serious about.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I was New Zealand Rugby, I\u2019d be looking at this closely, because these guys certainly won\u2019t be the last ones looking overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n