Question on NZ Franchise Areas

[Scan]

Just wondering if anyone could clear this up for me. Obviously players move between S15 franchises and ITM Cup provinces in between seasons but I'm a bit confused with the whole 'franchise areas' thing. I thought the New Zealand franchises could only pick players from their own franchise area (or sign players from abroad of course) e.g. the Crusaders can only choose from Canterbury and Tasman.

But the Highlanders have loads of players in their 2012 squad who don't play for Southland or Otago. For instance, Nasi Manu used to play for the Crusaders and Canterbury but when he joined the Highlanders he stayed playing ITM Cup for Canterbury. How's that work? Would he not have to join Southland or Otago as well.

Colin Slade plays for Canterbury. Kade Poki plays for Tasman. Andrew Hore plays for Taranaki. The list goes on.

 

[Robert Prosser]

The Hurricanes represent the East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington provincial Rugby unions.

The Highlanders represent North Otago, Otago and Southland provincial Rugby unions.

The Crusaders represent Buller, Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury, Tasman and West Coast provincial Rugby Unions.

The Blues represent the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland Rugby Unions.

The Chiefs represent the Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, King Country, Thames Valley and Waikato Rugby Unions.

Not sure if that helps on what areas the represent.

As for the players moving to a different region like from the Highlanders to Crusders but still playing for Otago, its Otago are his club side and he is basically still signed to them whilst the regional side he plays for is seperate all together and players are free to transfer to different regions, all though I am not 100% sure.

 

[Scan]

Thanks Robert.

I know the provinces that make up each franchise already, but I just don't understand the point of having franchise areas if a player can play for a province in the Crusaders franchise area but play for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.

Bit confusing. Most of the players who play for S15 sides outside of their area play for the 'Landers too. Is there not enough depth in Southland and Otago or something?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Have a look at this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Rugby_franchise_areas

Important side-note:
All 5 teams are able to protect 24 players from within their franchise area each season. Players not protected can be selected by any of the other four franchises.

 

[welshglory]

That's exactly it. I think its a good thing though, kind of like a draft. Welsh rugby should try and do the same

 

[Robert Prosser]

Have a look at this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Rugby_franchise_areas

Important side-note:
All 5 teams are able to protect 24 players from within their franchise area each season. Players not protected can be selected by any of the other four franchises.

I like that idea protecting a set amount of players who can not play for another region as Welshglory says would love to see this done in Wales.

 

[smartcooky]

[TABLE="class: wikitable sortable jquery-tablesorter"]
<tbody>[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Blues[/TD]
[TD]Auckland[/TD]
[TD]ITM Cup teams:

• • Auckland
  • North Harbour
  • Northland

[/TD]
[TD]Eden Park[/TD]
[TD]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Chiefs[/TD]
[TD]Hamilton[/TD]
[TD]ITM Cup teams:

• • Bay of Plenty
  • Counties Manukau
  • Waikato

Heartland Championship teams:

• • King Country
  • Thames Valley

[/TD]
[TD]Waikato Stadium[/TD]
[TD]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Crusaders[/TD]
[TD]Christchurch[/TD]
[TD]ITM Cup teams:

• • Canterbury
  • Tasman (formed by merger of Marlborough and Nelson Bays)

Heartland Championship teams:

• • Buller
  • Mid Canterbury
  • South Canterbury
  • West Coast

[/TD]
[TD]Rugby League Park (2012-), Lancaster Park (1996-2011)[/TD]
[TD]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Highlanders[/TD]
[TD]Dunedin[/TD]
[TD]ITM Cup teams:

• • Otago
  • Southland

Heartland Championship teams:

• • North Otago

[/TD]
[TD]Forsyth Barr Stadium (2012-), Carisbrook (to 2011),
Rugby Park Stadium[/TD]
[TD]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Hurricanes[/TD]
[TD]Wellington[/TD]
[TD]ITM Cup teams:

• • Hawke's Bay
  • Manawatu
  • Taranaki
  • Wellington

Heartland Championship teams:

• • East Coast
  • Horowhenua-Kapiti
  • Poverty Bay
  • Wairarapa Bush
  • Wanganui

[/TD]
[TD]Wellington Stadium[/TD]
[TD]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]



Eligible ITM Cup players are contracted to play in Super Rugby by the NZRU.

Each Franchise can only have 30 players players contracted to their main squad (they are also allowed to have a "wider training squad", the members of which cannot play unless a member of the main squad drops out for the season with an injury.

Of the 30 players they are allowed, only 24 players from their own franchise/feeder area can be 'protected'; that is, other franchises cannot name them.

All the remaining players go into the draft to be picked up by other franchises.

Players can appeal a selection to play with another franchise on the grounds of personal hardship, but part of their contract says that they must go where they are sent.

Under the old NZ Super 14 regulations, players had to be eligible to play for the All Blacks, although there was special exemption for Pacific Island players.

From Super Rugby onwards, franchises are allowed to select up to three overseas players.

 

[bushytop]

If the WRU do become more involved as is needed an predicted this would be a great model to install. It would be great if all four of the best players in each position could be spread across each region to maximize a national pool of 60 elite players game time and experience.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I have to admit i didn't think the "protected players" stuff etc was still valid since the direct contracting, I thought anyone in NZ could sign with any frachise

ps. Poki plays for (signed with anyway) southland, he USE to play for tasman

 

[Robert Prosser]

I have to admit i didn't think the "protected players" stuff etc was still valid since the direct contracting, I thought anyone in NZ could sign with any frachise

ps. Poki plays for (signed with anyway) southland, he USE to play for tasman

Poki was left off the Crusaders squad for the 2011 Super Rugby season, and initially not selected by any of the other New Zealand teams. However, an injury to Kurt Baker saw him added to the Highlanders squad on the eve of the season.

The fact he used to play for Tasman would not have any bearing on where he plays now would it? He joined Southland who are in the Highlanders catchment so he has been picked by the Highlanders.

 

[Scan]

Cheers lads. I understand now.

With that in mind, the Highlanders seem very reluctant to pick players from Southland and Otago. They only have 11 lads from their own franchise area in their squad.
The Crusaders get on fine picking from only two provinces. What's the matter with Southland and Otago?

 

[Kiwiwomble]

thats a little bit of a simplified view. The crusaders have been able to pick from within their area because players move to that area so they can be picked by the saders. In saying that the do have a very very good player development program in place....but several of those guys have had to move elseware to get game time (to the highlanders in some cases) as their position is already full

I'm going to sound a bit whiny for a minute so i'm sorry...BUT, when you look at those catctments we would by far have the smallest playerbase. the saders are the only other team with as few ITM cup teams to pick from and one of them is canterbury which in general could play super rugby on its own! the canes have four ITM cups teams in their catchment and the chiefs/blues both have three....and on current form most would beat otago!

So it's ot reluctantcy to sign players from the area its we just dont have the depth to beat what teams like the crusaders (and last year the canes) cast off

 

[nickdnz]

Cheers lads. I understand now.

With that in mind, the Highlanders seem very reluctant to pick players from Southland and Otago. They only have 11 lads from their own franchise area in their squad.
The Crusaders get on fine picking from only two provinces. What's the matter with Southland and Otago?

As Jabby says, Southland and Otago have a very small catchment area compared with most other teams.

Canterbury aren't perfect either.

Israel Dagg, Khan Fotoali'i (before he left) and Zac Guildford all play for Hawkes Bay. All the Whitelocks were in the Manuwatu area before they traveled to Canterbury. Robert Fruean played for the Hurricanes before moving to Canterbury. Tom Donnelly still plays for Otago I think. Sean Maitland was in the Chiefs catchment before going to Canterbury. Ross Kennedy has played for the Hurricanes and Highlanders before playing for Canterbury. Even Richie McCaw moved from Otago to Canterbury. Their youth system and tradition success means players are more willing to travel and move over there.

 

[Scan]

As Jabby says, Southland and Otago have a very small catchment area compared with most other teams.

Kinda ironic now that the Highlanders are top of the NZ conference at the moment and looking good. Hopefully they won't fade like last year.
They can only get better when the likes of Sopoaga, Lynn, Piutau and Hoeata are back fit.