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All Blacks set to be paid over $1m for Japanese training camp

Steve Hansen leads an All Blacks training session. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have added a Japanese-based training camp to their World Cup preparations as they pursue an unprecedented third successive world title.

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According to a report from the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Rugby has accepted an offer from Kashiwa City officials for the All Blacks to train in the city, which is 50km northeast of the Japanese capital Tokyo, midway through September.

The deal presents New Zealand with a chance to avoid a rusty start to the tournament, as happened against Argentina four years ago, when they were pressed for the entirety of the contest before eventually running out 26-16 winners at Wembley Stadium in London.

It is believed Kashiwa will pay the All Blacks in excess of $1 million to train and stay in the city for four days.

It is likely that commercial obligations will need to be upheld by Steve Hansen’s men as part of the offer, but it will provide the reigning back-to-back world champions a chance to acclimatise in Japan before their blockbuster World Cup opener against South Africa on September 21.

The All Blacks will travel to Kashiwa two days after their World Cup warm-up clash against Tonga in Hamilton on September 7, before transferring to Tokyo about a week before their Springboks fixture.

That winner of that encounter will likely top the group, with minnows Italy, Canada and Namibia the two side’s only other opponents in Pool B before the quarter-final stage of the competition.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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