row crisis as shortage threatens top teams

One says he believes the “bigger units” are falling out of love with the game because they’re “being trained like All Blacks”. He says the traditional club rugby prop “isn’t the fittest fella on the field” – but there’s no game without him.

Another says front-rowers, who used to “age like wine”, are “pulling the pin in their mid-20s, whereas front-rowers of a decade ago would happily go late into their 30s”.

Rugby at this level cannot be played without specialist front-row players – and, to a degree, qualified reserves. There are national provisions (Domestic Safety Law Variations or DSLVs) for playing with reduced numbers, but Premier grades must start with at least a nominated tighthead prop, loosehead prop and a hooker.

If they name a full squad of 22, they must have a minimum of five players who are trained in the front row.

The regulations for competitions that are not designated Premier grades (eg Division 2 or lower) allow for matches to begin with uncontested scrums.

One club president the Herald spoke to suggested that regulation may have to be extended to Premier competitions too.

Another option being explored by clubs is to import players from overseas in order to maintain their presence in the top divisions.

“That brings its own complications,” one club president notes.

Importing players isn’t as simple as a Facebook post – though that’s how many start. The process can involve working visas, sponsorships and legal fees, which all add up for clubs that may not have the budget.

Still, the social media pages advertising rugby vacancies are littered with advertisements from around New Zealand, Australia and the world for front-rowers needed.

The cost of not remaining in the top division can be even higher for clubs. Whilst it’s hard to stay in the top flight, it’s harder still to return. Once a team drops out, they often loses their best players. Those players aspire to continue at a certain level and will find new clubs that provide that opportunity. Forming a team that can return to the highest level has taken some clubs a decade and others even longer.

Some clubs in Canterbury still haven’t managed it after more than 20 years of trying.

Canterbury’s head of community rugby, Michael Sheat, concedes that there is a shortage.

“We are aware there are some clubs that are light on front-row players, but aren’t aware of any that are critical in terms of being able to field a team. All clubs are constantly working on increasing their depth in this area,” Sheat says.

“At Canterbury Rugby, we support that through a range of initiatives across both clubs and schools. That includes access to specialist resource coaches such as NPC assistant coach Dan Cron and Canterbury FPC player and former Black Fern Pip Love, along with others who help develop aspiring front-rowers and support coaches working in that space.”

If Canterbury, a powerhouse union with some of the highest playing numbers, is experiencing a shortage, how are smaller unions getting by?

In Hawke’s Bay, two clubs have already made the decision to forego premier club rugby this year.

Hawke’s Bay community rugby manager Sean Davies says the front-row shortage is widespread.

“Front-row forwards is a big issue around New Zealand and around the globe,” Davies told Hawke’s Bay Today.

Aotea Sports Club manager Bryan Te Huki said his team was lacking forwards - and that contributed to them choosing to drop down a division.

“To play prems you need to have the experience to compete, and we lost for different reasons the bulk of our front row, the props up the front, and the hooker,” said Te Huki.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) acknowledged the issue.

“We know that there is an ongoing challenge in growing and retaining front-row players’ numbers due to the unique demands of the position. This is not a new issue, so New Zealand Rugby has been working on both short-term and longer-term strategies to help unions grow and retain numbers in these positions for clubs and schools,” Mike Hester, head of rugby participation and development at NZR, says.

Hester points to the DSLVs and “Game On” strategy as a way of combating the front-row shortage in the short term. NZR is aware that some of their smaller unions have had to apply those measures at their Premier level of club rugby before.

“Longer-term, we are looking at how we can encourage more young people into front-row positions. We are overhauling how scrums are introduced into junior rugby, as we know rugby is a late-development sport and it’s important children enjoy the game while learning the technicalities at a gradual pace,” Hester says.

The upside to the shortage of front-rowers is that for those big boys who have stuck with the game and made peace with the fact that they’ve had their kicking licence revoked or will never emulate Christian Cullen, Dan Carter or Will Jordan, there’s a massive opportunity with their name on it.

World-class props have been as well-paid as anyone in the game and in many cases, better. Carl Hayman and John Afoa were among the highest earners in Europe after they left New Zealand rugby.

The physical power base of the game now has some serious bargaining power, too. Particularly at grassroots level.

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