While it\u2019s not a problem Henry can fix, he has offered a solution to what could keep more players in New Zealand while speaking to Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d widen the number of teams, make them provincially-based because I think there\u2019s real enthusiasm for the game in the provinces,\u201d Henry said. \u201cI think we need to use that enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWiden the number of teams, keep connecting with Australia because they\u2019re like us, they\u2019re isolated, so we need to work together, and the island countries need to have a team in that competition as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether that can get any traction, I\u2019m not sure. But what that does is it gives a lot of opportunity for young players to play at the level below international rugby, so you\u2019re getting a wider base and a wider base to develop.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at opposite codes, they\u2019ve got a lot more teams in their professional competitions, so a lot more contracts, a lot more young men or young women playing at the level below international football and that may be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sir Graham Henry coached the Blues to the inaugural Super 12 title in 1996. Photo \/ Getty<\/p>\n
Henry feels that after 30 years of Super Rugby Pacific with mixed success, something has to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t continue doing what we\u2019re doing, we need to widen our horizons, I think, and make some decisions for the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll be lucky enough to be in those discussions because times change and you need to change with the times and keep up with the times and do what\u2019s right for our game in this country, and we haven\u2019t changed much at all over the last 30 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been playing Super Rugby and that\u2019s been good and maybe we need to look at that pretty seriously and say what is the best we can do going forward. I think you need to put a few heads together and discuss that and I\u2019m sure Steve Lancaster and his team are thinking that way as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talking to Ryan Bridge TODAY, Henry said he was open to more flexibility in picking former All Blacks returning from overseas contracts \u2013 putting them straight into the All Blacks environment over having to play in a domestic competition first.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery case is an individual case but greater flexibility than what the current law is for players coming back from overseas. Richie Mo\u2019unga, for example, has played over 50 tests, Brodie Retallick over 100. They\u2019ve done their service, they\u2019ve been great All Blacks and I think there should be flexibility in that case; they\u2019ve gone through the hard yards. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think the question of picking people from overseas is a real issue right now and a lot of people are putting a lot of thought into that and what is the best way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rennie is expected to reveal his first 34-man squad next month for July\u2019s Nations Cup tests against France, Italy and Ireland.<\/p>\n
The first test against France takes place on July 4 against France in Christchurch.<\/p>\n