I'm from the Manawatu, hence why I point this out:
Look how many of our boys are in the Canes..... ZIP (excluding the wider training squads)
Now look at the list of guys signed by other franchises:
Cruden, Tikoirotuma, Crosswell, and Fitzgerald (Chiefs)
A Smith, Fia, and Emery (Highlanders)
and then arguably the Whitelocks who all hail from the Manawatu as well.
To me this just epitomises the Hurricanes downfall - simply do not retain their own players (and this is just the Manawatu lads)!!
On the other hand you have the Crusaders who actively sign up all their young talent with a very well thought out and targeted strategy aimed at keeping their young fullahs from leaving the area. It was interesting listening to the radio the other day when they were discussing how the Crusaders (and Canterbury) do it. Apparently they have pages and pages of examples of players who stayed on with Canterbury and the Crusaders, turning down multiple offers from other teams when they were young, and despite often not getting much or any game time in their early years, all went on to be All Blacks. They basically show these kids evidence of a pathway they have within the Crusaders environment that will get them an AB jersey! Bird is a very good recent example, already an AB and bugger all Super Rugby experience. I reckon if he'd taken off to any other team he wouldn't be going on the AB tour!
