Rugby World UK – July 2019

Molitika says his only regret is that he
never played Super Rugby, but he left to
find a life overseas when you needed
a day job if you were in New Zealand’s
second tier. It was on the way, he says,
that he made great memories, great
friends and fell for life in Wales.
We know big-name Test stars move
abroad all the time. Japan and France
are fruitful markets now. But you can
also look at guys like Thor Halvorsen.
The South African confesses things
were lonely when he first left regular
Currie Cup rugby with Boland Cavaliers
for Italy at 25, joining Mogliano. By his
third season, though, he was thriving.
After a short-lived return home and time
worrying about a debilitating foot injury,
he was back in Italy, at the level under
Benetton and Zebre, with Rovigo Delta.
According to Halvorsen, young South
African talents have to be prepared to
take a leap of faith abroad. He knows
plenty of energetic African players (and
coaches) who have made their way in
Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka and Russia.
“There are so many kids in South
Africa who are not getting their chances
and they are heading overseas,” the
back-row says. “South Africa has some

of the best (rugby) schools in the world

and in big competitions they are

dominating. But a lot of South African

schoolboys are wasted now and after

U20s, many of the boys stop playing.

“I’ve spoken to many who ask me,

‘Should I head overseas?’ If you have

the opportunity and can go at a young

age, do it. I know so many guys who are

here (in Europe) playing now. They live

a good life. To travel the world and get

paid for it, what can be better than that?”

Well, all will agree that in a perfect

world, more money in less-developed

rugby nations and especially at lower

levels would be better. There would

be more security and less volatility.

We’ve all seen what has happened

at Yorkshire Carnegie recently.

Yet there is a romanticism that powers

many a journeyman, staving off the

question of whether it’s time to stop

seeking that one last contract.

INKING A DEAL

IT WON’T always be a shift overseas

that sees athletes move. And according

to player agent Ali Smith, of Phoenix

Sports Management, what is best for a

career won’t always be about more pay.

“I’ll be honest, when most players move

the reason is an increase in salary,” Smith

admits. “But I’ve had many players who

moved and took pay cuts for rugby

reasons and development reasons.

“Fans might think agents do deals to

make as much money as we can, but if

we move a player to a club where he’ll

develop and he’ll start and play more,

his value will rise in the years to come.

I tell my players it’s not a backwards

movement but a sideways movement.

“Mainly these guys are Premiership

players who have played one or two

Special Report

Big in Japan

Georgia hooker Jaba

Bregvadze is at Sunwolves

Rovigo on the go

Thor Halvorsen