New Zealand Rugby chiefs said on Thursday that they had "no plans to emulate Australia and relax eligibility rules so overseas-based players can represent the All Blacks," according to the AFP. The Australian Rugby Union announced the move on Wednesday in response to a "host of top players taking up lucrative club contracts after this year's September-October World Cup in England." Defending world champions New Zealand face a "similar post-tournament exodus." But New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew said his organization still believed that the "only players allowed to pull on the hallowed All Black jersey should be based in New Zealand." Tew: "The core policy is 'if you're not here, you don't play for us' and we think that's been a very important part of our player-retention strategy" (AFP, 4/22). In Auckland, Daniel Richardson reported as it stands, players "must be plying their trade in New Zealand to be
considered for the All Blacks but with a collection of young players" announcing moves to Europe,
"calls have come for NZR to have a rethink." Tew said of a policy change, "We can never say never. Policies need to be reviewed on a regular cycle and that will be the
case but right now there is no indication we would be looking to change
that. Right now, our policy has held us in good stead and we will continue it" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 4/23).
