New Zealand Rugby is bracing itself for the latest player drain with eight All Blacks heading abroad at the end of the season, and more could follow.
38 players left Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific clubs at the end of the 2024 season, and while that number may not be matched this year, several stars will be cashing in on deals in England, France, and Japan.
Reality of New Zealand Rugby exodus
Former All Blacks boss Sir Steve Hansen says that an exodus of talent out of New Zealand is simply a reality that NZ Rugby has to accept.
“Well, we have to understand and accept that’s what could happen because it is happening,” he told the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin.
“So, it’s a reality [that players are leaving]. What are we going to do about it? We’ve just got to make sure that we keep developing enough players for our own market as well.”
Hansen has a point, as there are just 190 full-time professional contracts on offer in Aotearoa, and with New Zealand Rugby paying the salaries of all those players, it’s impossible for them to hold onto everyone and have to prioritise certain talents.
The top All Blacks are on the top of that list and command the biggest salaries with the next tier of players usually being the ones who head abroad and that is very much the case in 2026.
A New Zealand Herald report detailed that Super Rugby clubs have a nominal NZ$4.5 million salary cap to contract 38 players, and the maximum they can pay any individual is NZ$195,000.
NZ Rugby then has a top-up budget for around 30 to 40 players, but this structure has led to ‘massive pay inequity’, according to the report, as leading All Blacks earn around NZ$1m a year, while Super Rugby players are being paid anything from NZ$130,000 to NZ$190,000. With further bonuses and top-ups, high-value franchise players can take home between NZ$180,000 and NZ$350,000.
However, those players can easily fetch anything from NZ$400,000 to NZ$800,000 with a move to a Japanese, French, or English club.
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Blues feel the brunt of the exodus
The lure of a high wage abroad has hit home for New Zealand clubs this season, with the Blues feeling the brunt of the exodus. Incoming head coach Jason Holland will be without the services of club stalwart Dalton Papali’i and 2024 Super Rugby Pacific MVP Hoskins Sotutu.
Papali’i fell out of favour with the All Blacks last year and had disagreements with ex-head coach Scott Robertson, which has led to his decision to sign with French Top 14 club Castres, while Sotutu hasn’t had an opportunity since 2022. That has also led to the number eight signing a deal with the Newcastle Red Bulls.
Furthermore, AJ Lam will join Papali’i in France after agreeing to join Clermont, having also never really featured on the All Blacks radar, with rumours suggesting that Kurt Eklund and Stephen Perofeta could leave Auckland, too.
The lure of the All Blacks jersey and NZ Rugby’s selection policy that doesn’t allow the head coach to select overseas-based players means that the top players and regulars remain at New Zealand Super Rugby clubs. However, it’s these kinds of talents on the fringe that slip through the cracks despite being pivotal members of their respective clubs.
Top prospects leave Hurricanes
What becomes problematic for NZ Rugby is when they are unable to lock in top talents on longer-term contracts before they have a breakout season, and this year, it has led to the departure of two of Super Rugby’s best performers.
Devan Flanders has been tipped for an All Blacks call-up and possible Test debut under new head coach Dave Rennie due to his superb form for the league leaders. It’s the first season that the 26-year-old has really emerged as a prospect for the Test team, though he did represent the All Blacks XV under Jamie Joseph last year.
Earlier this week, the Hurricanes announced that Flanders has taken up a deal with an undisclosed Japanese club, which is undoubtedly a blow to Rennie’s back-row depth, particularly on the blindside. The Hurricanes stalwart’s exit is offset by Shannon Frizell’s return to the Highlanders next season, but the 32-year-old has only signed a one-year deal. Six years Frizell’s junior and a player really starting to come into his own, Flanders is the biggest blow to Rennie’s stocks despite being uncapped, particularly when one considers the struggles the All Blacks have had in the number six jumper.
Another exciting All Blacks prospect is also heading abroad, with Fehi Fineanganofo signing with Newcastle, making the move with Sotutu. At the time of writing, the winger is just one try short of equaling Ben Lam’s and Joe Roff’s shared record for the most tries in a single Super Rugby season (16). The 23-year-old is just another example of a rising star slipping through the cracks before he emerged as a real Test prospect.
More fringe All Blacks depart
While the Hurricanes are losing Super Rugby’s hottest prospect to the Red Bull-backed PREM Rugby club, the other New Zealand clubs look set to bid farewell to key players, too.
Xavier Roe has been heavily linked with a move to Sale Sharks as a replacement for Raffi Quirke at the PREM Rugby club, who missed out on the services of Faf de Klerk. The 27-year-old is another who has been on the fringe of All Blacks selection but this season he has been a regular starter for Jono Gibbes’ Chiefs over Cortez Ratima.
There is also the prospect that Samipeni Finau could be leaving the Waikato-based club with his contract expiring, while Clermont have snapped up flyer Etene Nanai-Seturo.
Over in Christchurch, the Crusaders are losing All Blacks Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Sevu Reece, and possibly even captain David Havili. Reports of the Highlanders’ departures have been nigh-on non-existent but Jamie Joseph did suggest that Jonah Lowe will be leaving the Dunedin side and Tanielu Telea could be too.
New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific 2026 exodus
Blues
Dalton Papali’i to Castres (confirmed)
Hoskins Sotutu to Newcastle Red Bulls (confirmed)
Terrell Peita to Dragons RFC (confirmed)
AJ Lam to Clermont (confirmed)
*Kurt Eklund, contract expiring
*Stephen Perofeta, contract expiring
*Could be leaving, Sky Sports NZ rumour
Chiefs
Xavier Roe to Sale Sharks (rumoured)
Etene Nanai-Seturo to Clermont (confirmed)
Samipeni Finau, contract expiring (could be leaving, Sky Sports NZ rumour)
Crusaders
Louie Chapman to Edinburgh (confirmed)
Braydon Ennor to Perpignan (confirmed)
Dallas McLeod to Exeter Chiefs (confirmed)
Sevu Reece to Perpignan (confirmed)
*David Havili, contract expiring
*Could be leaving, Sky Sports NZ rumour
Highlanders
Jonah Lowe leaving (TBC, Jamie Joseph confirmed)
Tomás Lavanini to Stormers (rumour)
Tanielu Telea contract expiring
Hurricanes
Pouri Rakete-Stones to Newcastle Red Bulls (confirmed)
Isaia Walker-Lewawere to Benton (confirmed)
Devan Flanders to Japan (confirmed, club TBC)
Fehi Fineanganofo to Newcastle Red Bulls (confirmed)
Riley Higgins to Edinburgh (confirmed)
Warner Dearns returning to Brave Lupus (confirmed)
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Lalomilo Lalomilo to Grenoble (confirmed)