Steve Hansen warns New Zealand must accept player exodus as 'reality of modern game'

Key facts

• Steve Hansen spoke on the DSPN Podcast with Martin Devlin.
• Players set to leave after 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season include Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Xavier Roe.
• Recent departures include Mark Tele’a, Tom Christie, Sam Gilbert, Fergus Burke, Harry Plummer, Ricky Riccitelli, Shaun Stevenson, and Levi Aumua.
• Hansen said New Zealand has only five Super Rugby teams, limiting domestic opportunities.
• A new high-performance director role at NZ Rugby is expected to be filled soon.
• Hansen expressed confidence in NZ Rugby's current leadership, calling decisions 'well-thought-out'.
• The end of a World Cup cycle typically increases player exodus.

A reality, not a crisis

Sir Steve Hansen, the legendary former All Blacks head coach, has delivered a blunt assessment of New Zealand rugby's player drain: it is an unavoidable reality of the modern game. Speaking on the DSPN Podcast with Martin Devlin, Hansen urged the country to accept that top players will continue to seek lucrative contracts abroad. "Well, we have to understand and accept that’s what could happen because it is happening. So, it’s a reality [that players are leaving]," Hansen said. His remarks come as a growing list of high-profile names prepare to leave New Zealand at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The departing talent

Among those confirmed to depart are Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Xavier Roe. They follow a wave of recent exits including Mark Tele’a, Tom Christie, Sam Gilbert, Fergus Burke, Harry Plummer, Ricky Riccitelli, Shaun Stevenson, and Levi Aumua. The outflow is expected to intensify after next year's World Cup, a period that historically triggers an increased exodus. Hansen acknowledged the scale of the movement but framed it as a structural challenge rather than a sign of decline. "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," he said.

Pathways under pressure

The coach pointed to New Zealand's limited domestic structure — just five Super Rugby teams — as a key factor driving players overseas. With fewer opportunities at home, talented athletes are forced to look abroad for game time and recognition. Hansen stressed that the solution lies in strengthening development pathways from the grassroots up. "The train will stop if we don’t keep working hard underneath it," he warned. "There’s enough understanding to know that we probably aren’t doing as good a job down there at the moment as we could be. But they are looking at that and they will find a way."

Leadership and the new high-performance role

Hansen expressed optimism about the direction of New Zealand Rugby under its current leadership. "I’m excited by the leadership of this rugby union at the moment. They’re making good decisions. They’re making well-thought-out decisions. They’re not being rushed into anything," he said. He highlighted the impending appointment of a high-performance director as a critical opportunity to rebuild the player pathway. "We’ve got an opportunity coming up. There’s a new role coming which will be exciting to see who gets that, and I’m sure they’ll put the right person in there," Hansen added. "That person will work with a team to help create a pathway that has probably slipped a little, to be honest."

Competing with league and offshore clubs

Hansen noted that the competition for players is not new — rugby league has long been a rival, and overseas clubs have been active for years. The key, he argued, is to make the All Blacks jersey so compelling that players choose to stay and fight for it. "Young people need to know that they’ve got a chance; otherwise, they’ll take the other chances that they’re being offered," he said. "We’ve got to make it an environment where everyone wants to be in it, and they’ll stay and fight for it. It’s about making the jersey so exciting, making wanting to play for the All Blacks an exciting thing." Hansen also pointed out that New Zealand is not just developing players for its own teams but also for overseas markets and league, a reality that must be managed deliberately.

The road ahead

Hansen's message is clear: New Zealand rugby cannot halt the exodus, but it can ensure a steady pipeline of talent to replace those who leave. The focus must be on improving development structures, recognizing young players, and creating a culture that values the black jersey. With a new high-performance director on the horizon and a leadership team he trusts, Hansen believes the sport can navigate this challenge. "I do believe that there’s plenty of talent being produced; we just have to go back to making sure we have good pathways for it to come through and show that you care about them," he concluded. The coming months will reveal whether NZ Rugby can translate that belief into action.

The bottom line

• Steve Hansen insists New Zealand must accept player departures as a permanent feature of professional rugby.
• At least nine high-profile players have left or are set to leave after the 2026 season, with more expected post-World Cup.
• New Zealand's five Super Rugby teams create limited domestic opportunities, pushing players abroad.
• Hansen calls for improved development pathways and a new high-performance director to rebuild the talent pipeline.
• He expresses confidence in current NZ Rugby leadership but acknowledges the pathway has 'slipped a little'.
• Making the All Blacks jersey aspirational is key to retaining talent.