OZmob flocking to NZ

A number of Australian players can be expected to turn out for New Zealand teams in the NPC this season according to Counties Manukau coach Milton Haig.
UMAGA ALSO DRAWING CARD FOR SAFFAS.

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The big news for the upcoming NPC so far has been Tana Umaga signing to play for the Steelers, which has prompted a lot of interest from other players who would like the chance to rub shoulders with Umaga.

The fact that Australian coach Robbie Deans is a Kiwi means that he will also have been a key protagonist in generating interest from some of the Australian players.

“We’ve been inundated by a number of names coming across our desk of players who are currently involved with Australian Super 14 or Super 15 franchises,” Haig told Rugbynews.

“It’s the first time in my coaching career that I’ve seen an open willingness from these Australian players (to want to play in New Zealand) and also a real willingness from the Australian Rugby Union.”

While there has been a small scattering of Australian in the NPC in the past, there has never been many high profile players willing to make the trip across the Tasman.

“The reality is we’ve never had anything like this happen in Counties before,” Haig said.

According to Haig, several player agents told him that their clients would be interested in joining the Steelers if Umaga was there, and that Umaga himself has said he knows players in France and South Africa who would be interested in playing for the Steelers.