Leila Masaga Off to Japan?

It appears that the world has claimed another of New Zealand rugby's best players, with Leila Masaga set to join Chiefs teammate, Richard Kahui and now-former All Black teammate, Adam Thomson in Japan at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Masaga, Kahui, Thomson and Rene Ranger are the highest profile names of the player exodus that New Zealand rugby has experienced since God or whichever higher entity you believed in, placed New Zealand at the corner of the world yet left its people with the ability to be curious and yearn for greener pastures.

Once again, the same questions are being asked - why are our players going, should the New Zealand rugby union be doing something to stop our best players going overseas, how will this affect the All Blacks?

Former All Black and current Sky Sports commentator, Jeff Wilson wrote an opinion piece questioning if the All Blacks jersey had lost its pull in the Sunday Star Times - http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/8374290/Is-the-All-Blacks-jersey-losing-its-pull.

New Zealand Herald's rugby writer, Gregor Paul was a bit more positive - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10868794

Tamati Ellison came back from Japan in 2012 better than ever

I think the player exodus has been generalized into a crisis when clearly that is not the case, and I think for some players, going overseas has actually helped them tremendously, e.g. Tamati Ellison, Leon Macdonald appear to have benefited from playing in the less physical competition in Japan and came back to New Zealand rugby refreshed and wiser. Again I reiterate, this does not apply to everyone - as we saw with Luke McAlister who never got back to the form he showed in the black jersey prior to his
move to Sale.

Kahui's body needs a bit of a break from Super Rugby

However, I think we will see the former effect on Richard Kahui - a player whose development has long been dogged by injury. Going to Japan may enable him to finally develop into the player he always had the potential to be in an environment that is going to be less detrimental to his health. It appears that is his idea with a return due in time for the 2015 Super Rugby season and World Cup later in the year.

As for Leila Masaga and to a certain extent, Rene Ranger, both players have spent a long time out of the All Black limelight and are playing in positions where there is a lot of competition from younger and possibly better players along with the current incumbents, i.e. Masaga is competing with Hosea Gear, Julian Savea, Andre Taylor, Frank Halai, etc.

Savea's rise might have heralded Masaga's exit from NZ rugby

Masaga is an interesting case. He had plenty of plaudits early on in his career with Counties and the Chiefs but never really reached the heights expected. Perhaps he was unlucky to have started his career just as former teammate Sitiveni Sivivatu was at the peak of his powers and the game had shifted towards players strong under the high ball - something Masaga wasn't strong at.

Even so, he didn't really show what he could really do against top quality opposition when he got given the chances, and given the highly competitive nature of international rugby, especially when it comes to the All Blacks, it is very hard to come back and hope for another shot. And to be fair, Masaga's move to Bay of Plenty hasn't really been much of a success either.

So if he can't heck his way into Steve Hansen's team, Masaga might as well secure the retirement fund while his legs allow it. He'll still be one heck of a player wherever he goes.

Masaga is not the first player in this predicament. Nick Evans left New Zealand rugby when it was clear he was no longer wanted by the All Blacks after an average season in Super rugby in 2008 and has done very well with the Harlequins since.

The player exodus has become part and parcel of professional rugby that such moves aren't treated with the same horror and fear as they might have been 5 years ago. Perhaps, more drastic moves will be required in the future, but I don't think the All Black jersey has lost its lustre.

In fact, it has probably just got a bit tougher to earn than before and those who appear just short of the mark, are the ones who are forced to contemplate going overseas to earn their big bucks before being forced to hang up the boots.