# New Zealand Rugby Considers Overseas Eligibility for All Blacks Chief Rugby Officer Mike Collins signals potential shift in player selection policies. - **Source:** [1News](https://www.1news.co.nz) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/91e283e5-5a1f-4ba9-8955-a8868fdb5f85 ## Eligibility Policy Review New Zealand Rugby is currently reviewing its strict eligibility criteria for the All Blacks. Chief Rugby Officer Mike Collins confirmed that the organization is evaluating whether to allow players based in Australian Super Rugby clubs to be selected for the national team, marking a significant potential departure from their traditional domestic-only selection policy. ## Current Selection Constraints Historically, New Zealand Rugby has mandated that only players competing for New Zealand-based Super Rugby clubs are eligible for the All Blacks. This firm stance recently impacted star player Richie Mo’unga, who was initially deemed ineligible after playing in Japan, though he later joined the squad as an injury replacement for a tour. ## Strategic Shift Considerations The potential policy change aims to address talent distribution and financial sustainability within the sport. By allowing players to sign with Australian clubs while remaining available for international selection, New Zealand Rugby hopes to create a more balanced competition across the Super Rugby Pacific tournament while simultaneously alleviating domestic wage pressures on the organization. ## Internal Leadership Perspectives The shift in tone follows advocacy from prominent figures within the rugby community. Former coach Scott Robertson and his successor Dave Rennie have both publicly encouraged the national body to maintain an open-minded approach regarding overseas-based players, contrasting with the previous rigid enforcement of domestic-only participation for all elite national team candidates. ## Global Comparison Models New Zealand’s current deliberation contrasts sharply with the strategy employed by the South African national team. The defending world champions have successfully utilized a selection model where many of their biggest stars play club rugby outside the republic, proving that international success can be maintained despite a dispersed player base across various global leagues. ## Operational Cost Management New Zealand Rugby has recently focused on streamlining its pathway system, including merging urban provinces with Super Rugby teams to reduce operational replication and save costs. Allowing players to move to Australian clubs could further support these financial goals by spreading talent more evenly and reducing the burden of high-performance salary caps domestically. ## Necessary Stakeholder Agreements Implementing such a major change would require extensive negotiations and formal agreements from multiple parties. Both the New Zealand and Australian Players’ Associations, along with their respective governing boards, must reach a consensus before any policy shift can be enacted, as the move would fundamentally alter the landscape of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. ## Future Outlook Uncertain While Mike Collins has been in his role for only eleven weeks, his admission that the concept is on the table signals a willingness to explore previously forbidden options. No firm timeline for a final decision has been established, as discussions remain ongoing between all relevant stakeholders regarding the future of the All Blacks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/11/10/could-all-blacks-be-picked-from-australian-clubs/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._