Here in Europe rugby headlines have been dominated by the Six Nations for weeks now, it is after all the epicentre and pinnacle of Northern Hemisphere rugby.
Down in the Southern Hemisphere however, a little tournament called Super Rugby Pacific is getting underway. There, it is the clash of arguably some of the greatest club teams and players in the world that's dominating headlines.
Like Ireland, the All Blacks only select players for international duty who are either contracted to New Zealand Rugby or an NZ club team. There are similar, albeit more lenient rules in Australia as well. As a result, we get to see very few of Super Rugby's best players ever line out in Europe.
While All Blacks head coach Scott Razor Robertson caused quite a stir in his home country when he questioned that selection criteria a year ago, Jordie Barrett's sabbatical to Leinster has now convinced him that the rules are flexible enough as they are and in need of no change.
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25 January 2025; Jordie Barrett of Leinster after the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Speaking on NZME podcast Rugby Direct, Robertson explained how despite his previous openness to relaxing the All Blacks selection criteria, Barrett's time at Leinster shows it's not required.
"I understand how important it is and I've probably now got more insight around the flexibility there is in the current regulations. It is fit for purpose. There is flexibility there," said Robertson.
When Jordie came and said 'I've got an option for Leinster' we zoomed in and talked through all the practicalities; what would his season look like going north? Is it going to make him a better player?
Once we'd listened - he would have the majority of the Six Nations off, he'd had a break, he is well-coached, I just had a catch-up with Jacques Nienaber when I was over there and just how impressed he was with Jordie as a player, as a man, how hard he worked on and off the field. Jordie is an on-field coach so he will be learning massively. That's a prime example of keeping an open mind.
We're in a position now where he will come back as a better player and that's what we want out of this. He's just one example, with potentially more to come.
The precedent of Barrett's move and Robertson's hope that more stars could follow in his footsteps can only bode well for Irish provinces who will if nothing else have the pedigree to try attract the best of New Zealand to these shores for short-term bumper moves.
28-year-old Barrett joined Leinster on a short-term contract in December after his country's November Internationals and will return to his home country after the conclusion of Leinster's season and before New Zealand play any more test rugby.
The short-term nature of the sabbatical, and Jordie Barrett's existing contract with the NZR that will see him donning the famous black jersey beyond the 2027 World Cup, are the reasons he was allowed to make a foray into European rugby.
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