16 May 2013

ABs coach disagrees with crisis of players moving overseas

6:23 am on 16 May 2013

The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen disagrees that New Zealand rugby is facing a crisis with the number of second-tier players moving offshore.

Recent injuries to Chiefs backs Richard Kahui, Gareth Anscombe, Tim Nanai-Williams and Andrew Horrell has left the defending champions facing a shortage of players.

The Chiefs coach, Dave Rennie, has tried to recruit a number of local players who have already secured overseas contracts and says the New Zealand Rugby Union has a serious problem.

But the All Blacks coach Hansen says while they would prefer all players stayed in New Zealand, he doesn't believe more players are leaving than in the past.

Hansen says players will continue to leave New Zealand as long as there is a global professional game.