Nelson, New Zealand: The decision of All Blacks fly-half Colin Slade to head to Europe after the World Cup came with a rider on Tuesday that the exodus of New Zealand players is not yet over.
Slade is the 10th All Black so far to announce he is heading offshore at the end of the year, after the 27-year-old was offered a deal reportedly worth €660,000 a year to join French club Pau.
Still to confirm their post-World Cup futures are Julian Savea, Sam Cane and Ryan Crotty and, coupled with expected retirements and the impact of the Olympics, coach Steve Hansen is bracing for a difficult 12 months following the September-October tournament in England.
Cashed-up European clubs who once targeted players in the twilight of their careers, assisting the All Blacks into an easy rollover of talent, are now creating a talent drain by luring up-and-coming stars.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, who stands to lose two fly-halves to French clubs in Dan Carter and Slade, put a positive spin on the losses.
“It’s a good opportunity for some young guys to put their hands up and for us to start again almost,” he said.
But with the New Zealand sevens squad also able to call on All Blacks for the Olympics next year, Hansen admitted 2016 would be “one of the most difficult years” for All Blacks rugby.
“Not only are we losing people as it’s time for them to go overseas or retire, and we’ve lost one or two other people we didn’t want to lose, but we’re also going to lose some guys to the Olympics,” he told the stuff.co.nz website.
“We could lose up to 15 players out of our current 31-man squad, which is massive.”
