And there were exemptions given. The Crusaders were allowed to select two locks from their catchment area so both players could complete their studies. The Highlanders (first five), Hurricanes (hooker) and Chiefs (lock) opted not to select certain positions at all. The Blues were allowed to sign two No 10s from within their catchment area.
While the teams, front office staff and media assembled on the call, Hayden O’Donnell, contracting and relationships manager at New Zealand Rugby (NZR), explained the rules and the process of the draft ahead of selections being made, noting the hope that the event could build into much more of a spectacle as the years go on.
The potential is certainly there, though some tweaks would need to be made to appeal to an audience beyond those involved with the competition.
Unlike the player drafts most of us are familiar with from American sports, the Super Rugby clubs do not go one at a time to make their picks. Every round, the teams selecting send their choice to NZR, which then confirms the pick. If two or more clubs select the same player in the same round, the home region club gets priority. If neither is the athlete’s home club, the player gets the choice and the other clubs make a new selection.
The Highlanders, who signed only three players from their catchment area before Tuesday’s draft, got to kick things off, choosing Otago outside back Jae Broomfield.
Except they had already signed an outside back in Sam Nemec-Vial, and instead were required to sign either a loose forward, lock, hooker, tighthead prop or loosehead prop.
Broomfield was eventually picked up by the Crusaders a few rounds later.
In total, 57 players were added to wider training groups, with the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders taking the allotted 12, the Hurricanes 11 and the Highlanders 10.
The idea of a draft has often been thrown around among fans and pundits as a way of strengthening the competition, allowing players to suit up for teams on either side of the Tasman in a bid for parity across squads.
There are obvious roadblocks preventing that. NZR’s self-imposed rule that athletes have to play in New Zealand to be selected for the All Blacks is the main one.
While this version won’t drastically change the competition, the wider training group draft has potential as a television or livestream product, given a few tweaks to the format to heighten the drama.
Just spitballing here, but a couple of ideas to heighten the viewing experience, should they look to try and let the fans in, would be moving to one pick at a time, bringing in an energetic, charismatic host to front it, and having a panel of experts breaking down the picks as they come in. Granted, said experts would have to pay close attention to the NPC season.
Yes, this is the American model. The American model works.
There hasn’t been any indication as to whether that is in NZR’s thinking, but given O’Donnell’s opening remarks and Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley sitting in on the call, it’s certainly something worth exploring, both here and in Australia.
This is not the sort of draft that Super Rugby Pacific fans have been suggesting, but perhaps it’s the bones of a new way to engage fans across the country well before the start of the season.
Wider Training Group Squads
Blues (12 players)
Esilie Fono, loosehead prop, Northland
Leka Tu’ungafasi, tighthead prop, North Harbour
Riley Tofilau, tighthead prop, North Harbour
Jordan Hutchings, hooker, Northland
Tevita Tatafu, lock, Auckland
Sam Tuitupou, loose forward, North Harbour
Caleb Woodley, loose forward, Auckland
Tyson Belworthy, halfback, Canterbury
Cohen Norrie, first five-eighths, Auckland
Cam Howell, first five-eighths, North Harbour
Tom Barham, midfield, North Harbour
Harlyn Saunoa, outside backs, Auckland
Chiefs (12)
William Martin, loosehead prop, Waikato
Keightley Watson, tighthead prop, Taranaki
Samu Tawake, tighthead prop, Wellington
Kurene Luamanuvae, tighthead prop, Counties Manukau
JJ Pokai, hooker, Taranaki
Mosese Bason, loose forward, Manawatū
Rui Farrant, halfback, Waikato
Andrew Knewstubb, first five-eighths, Canterbury
Haki Wiseman, midfield, Taranaki
Michael Naitokani, midfield, Waikato
Nathan Stephens, outside backs, Waikato
Dallas Rata-Makene, outside backs, Waikato
Hurricanes (11)
Malakai Hala-Ngatai, loosehead prop, Manawatū
Logan Wallace, tighthead prop, Manawatū
Matolu Petaia, lock, Wellington
Johnny Falloon, lock, Wellington
Patrick Mauga, loose forward, Hawke’s Bay
Jai Tamati, halfback, Manawatū
Will Cole, first five-eighths, Hawke’s Bay
Gary Basson, midfield, Auckland
Lukas Ripley, outside backs, Hawke’s Bay
Taniela Filimone, outside backs, Manawatū
Waisake Salabiau, outside backs, Waikato
Crusaders (12)
Monu Moli, loosehead prop, Tasman
Gus Brown, tighthead prop, Canterbury
Vea Taumoefolau, tighthead prop, Tasman
Jayden Henderson, hooker, Southland
Max Fale, lock, Canterbury
Jake Frost, lock, Tasman
Konrad Toleafoa, loose forward, Southland
Joel Lam, halfback, Otago
Aaron Gibbs, first five-eighths, Bay of Plenty
Cooper Grant, midfield, Tasman
Jae Broomfield, outside backs, Otago
Logan Williams, outside backs, Canterbury
Highlanders (10)
Benjamin Lopas, loosehead prop, Otago
Solomone Tukuafu, tighthead prop, Bay of Plenty
Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, hooker, Waikato
Reuben Allen, lock, Manawatū
Senita Lauaki, loose forward, Waikato
Phoenix Abbott, loose forward, Canterbury
Kieran McClea, halfback, Otago
Austin Anderson, midfield, Waikato
Sam Nemec-Vial, outside backs, Otago
Nicholas Sauira, outside backs, Tasman
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.