Ali Williams, a World Cup winner with New Zealand who is one of Toulon’s foreign legion, is concerned that international rugby will suffer if the player drain from the southern hemisphere continues to gather pace.
Williams, who is 34 at the end of the month, joined Toulon two seasons ago at the end of his international career but this week his compatriot, the 27-year-old outside-half Colin Slade, signed a two-year contract with Pau. Players are now leaving the south at a younger age than they used to and in their international prime.
“More and more players are coming over here and it is a different rugby experience,” said Williams, who is looking to help Toulon to a third successive European Cup final by defeating Leinster at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Sunday.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in France and they have been a bonus two years because I felt finished, as if my body had had enough. Toulon have looked after me and the rest of the older guys here, allowing us to keep our zimmer frames until the Wednesday or Thursday of match week, and more and more players in the southern hemisphere will want to experience what I have: it is not just an opportunity but a career and the financial side means you have to make the most of it.
“At the same time, you do not want all this movement to ruin international rugby because that is what makes the game unique in the sporting world. The question is whether you want to stop it, but a solution has to be found.”
New Zealand’s policy, which is also adopted by Australia with South Africa set to follow, is that players who are not based in the country will not be considered for the All Blacks. England will only consider players who are not with a Premiership club in “exceptional circumstances”, a decision that has left the Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage in international isolation despite his exceptional club form.
“Steffon is right up there in terms of world-class flankers,” Williams said. “He is an under-rated player because he has not been on the international circuit for years, strong over the ball and defensively. But the rules are the rules and that is the decision you make.”
Toulon defeated Leinster at the quarter-final stage last year. They will not have home advantage this time, although they are used to playing in Marseille where they recently lost to Toulouse in the Top 14. The two sides have monopolised the tournament in the last four years and playing in next month’s final at Twickenham would have added meaning for Williams who is moving to London in the summer to start his new career.
“Leinster are a strong side and I expect the game to be as tight as it was last season,” he said. “It will be a match of 30 players fighting it out for inches. We have a number of experienced players who have appeared in World Cup finals and that helps in big games like this because you know what it takes to win.
“Playing at Twickenham would mean a lot to me. It was where I made my debut for the All Blacks and I will be living in London after leaving Toulon. I have yet to decide exactly what I will be doing: I have a few options to consider, including the media, but I would want a break before considering coaching. There is still a lot to play for before then and while people talk about three European Cups in a row, that is not in our minds. Our aim is to do as well as we can.”
