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'They've got plenty of dough': New Zealand Rugby stars name the European clubs they would 'love' to join
When it comes to choosing an overseas club to play for at a certain point in a player’s career, there are no shortage of options for those based in New Zealand.
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Players from across the country have departed for offshore clubs in their droves since the dawn of professionalism, with the riches on offer in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and Japan often far better than the pay packages available in New Zealand.
For Crusaders and North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall, though, it’s the title-winning success that has become synonymous with Saracens over the past decade that has made the London club the overseas team he would like to join the most.
Speaking to the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, the Maori All Blacks representative revealed that interactions with Saracens stars during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown was enough to sway him in favour of the five-time English and three-time European champions.
“I’d love to go to Saracens,” Hall said when asked what overseas club he would like to play for if the opportunity presented itself.
“During the COVID break, we were actually pretty lucky to actually talk to the Saracens boys and had some Zoom calls with them.”
Seemingly unfazed by Saracens’ salary cap scandal that has seen them relegated to the RFU Championship for the 2020-21 season, Hall suggested he was eager to continue the title-winning run he’s enjoyed since joining the Crusaders three years ago.
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“I see that team, they’ve got a lot of success around them, some quality players there, so if it was in Europe, Saracens would be a pretty cool spot.”
By comparison, Hall’s North Harbour teammate James Parsons said if he was to head overseas, he would like to play at a club that features a number of his former Blues teammates.
The veteran hooker pinpointed Premiership club Bristol Bears as one of his preferred destinations due to the presence of ex-Blues personnel such as utility back Charles Piutau, loose forward Steven Luatua, prop John Afoa, lock Chris Vui and director of rugby Pat Lam.
“I’d absolutely love to go join my Blues alumni at Bristol,” Parsons said. “They look like they have plenty of fun when they play.
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“They’ve got plenty of dough. It’s all spent, though, so I’ll be going for nothing, but yeah, that looks like a bit of fun.”
The two-test All Black added that there are a couple of other clubs that have piqued his interest, noting that a move to France holds particular intrigue.
“[Former England loose forward] Thomas Waldrom told me Exeter Chiefs is a hell of a lot of fun and they’ve got a great environment and, from what I can see, Jerome [Kaino] and Charlie [Faumuina] and Pita Ahki are loving Toulouse,” Parsons said.
“I think anywhere in France would be pretty cool. I think it would be pretty cool experiencing their culture and the way they do things over there. Obviously they love a scrum, so that suits me.”
While the idea of playing in France appeals to Parsons, Hall seemed more reluctant on plying his trade in the Top 14 due to the language barrier that would come with moving to a non-English-speaking country.
The 28-year-old said his role as a halfback is heavily dependant on communication, which would prove to be difficult as he isn’t able to speak French.
“I’d find it [in] France… being a halfback and game management is massive, and communication is massive. I think going to France, it would be an awesome lifestyle experience, I reckon, but… I’d have to learn French.”
Parsons, however, urged Hall to reconsider his stance on the matter, saying that learning the language and understanding the culture is all part of the experience of playing in a foreign country.
He highlighted former All Blacks playmaker Luke McAlister, who spent seven years playing for Toulouse, Toulon and Clermont, as an example of someone who flourished both on and off the field during their time in France.
“I think that’s what it’s about. You sort of look at the players that have immersed themselves in the culture, became long lost sons of the place, look at Luke McAlister,” Parsons said. “He was over there for a number of years, he’s speaking fluent [French].
“I think that’s part of the experience, learning the language and the culture and just going all in. No point going over there half-arsed, Bryn. Get into that culture, mate.”
Find the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod on all good podcast streaming services or listen to the episode below:
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
27 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
27 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
27 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments