Hawkes Bay Hika Elliot is a victim of professional in rugby with the Magpies unable to afford to contract the three test All Black and Chiefs regular for their ITM Cup 2013 campaign. Money is tight for most ITM Cup teams with most teams well under the salary cap in order to avoid the large financial debt which saw both Otago and Southland struggle with bankruptcy.

With the extended All Blacks and Super Rugby calendar, by the time Elliot would turn out for Hawkes Bay he would be lucky to play three or four games in the ITM Cup.

In recent times I remember the Stags laden Highlanders and their players like Josh Bekhuis, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh and John Hardie would toil for most weeks in Super Rugby and then by the time it was over they were stuffed and would need to rest for most of the early rounds of the ITM Cup. They would also not be playing their best footy. Super Rugby training starts in December or January and the competition finishes in August. That is a long season!

The All Blacks play domestic tests during the Super Rugby season window and then play in the Rugby Championship which goes from mid August until early October, leaving All Blacks virtually no chance to play ITM Cup for their province or if they do, it could cause more disruption than it is worth for a few games at the end, depending on if their team makes the finals.

Many ITM Cup unions can't afford to contract All Blacks or high level Super Rugby players as they don't have much money. Often All Blacks only get the opportunity to play a few ITM Cup matches and can cause more disruption than anything. Sometimes teams are better off with talent that has been training with the squad for the entire ITM Cup. All Blacks and Super Rugby players often struggle with fatigue when playing in the ITM Cup.

Should Super Rugby players and All Blacks be allowed in the ITM Cup? Or should the ITM Cup become completely amateur?

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/04/no-room-for-all-blacks-and-super-rugby.html