Crusaders are Tasman's preferred Super Rugby destination
Tasman Rugby Union CEO Tony Lewis says it is no coincidence the Crusaders will have record representation from the Makos in next year's Super Rugby.
In years gone by he said some people have jokingly labelled other Super sides as the "Tasman Chiefs" or the "Tasman Highlanders" due to the high number of Tasman players venturing out of their catchment area to ply their trade elsewhere.
Former coach Kieran Keane, now an assistant with the Chiefs, even criticised the relationship between the two organisations when he departed last year.
"Tasman would be advised to build their relationship there, because [Canterbury] are a powerhouse and they have a lot of resource that Tasman never get near, in a number of areas. [The relationship] needs to be improved on for Tasman to remain a top-tier side," he said.
But when Lewis arrived at Tasman HQ in 2013, he made reconnecting Tasman to the Crusaders one of his major goals. So the fact that six Tasman players will call Christchurch their second home should come as no surprise, it is just the results of that growing relationship starting to show, he said.
The Crusaders have snapped up a record six Tasman Makos for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
"Tasman are 100 per cent Crusaders focussed in everything we do," Lewis said.
"We own 18 per cent of it and why wouldn't you? That's our region. In the perfect world we want all our players to play for Tasman and then become Crusaders."
Lewis labelled the relationship with the Crusaders as being better than ever and said the two organisations now work closely together when it comes to recruiting and developing players.
In the case of Andrew Makalio, the hooker arrived in Nelson with the ambition of chasing a Crusaders contract. When Mitchell Hunt was lured home, a Crusaders contract helped get the young first-five across the line.
"There's a science behind it," he said.
The introduction of the Crusaders Academy has played a major part too. When Nelson-based co-ordinator Chris Goodman is recruiting talent, the first question that Lewis asks him is "is he good enough to play for the Crusaders?"
That's why Auckland secondary schools stars Lemeki Cagialau, Rupena Parkinson, Teahiwaru Cirikidaveta and Jamie Spowart have secured development contracts with Tasman for next year and why towering lock Pari Pari Parkinson, another Aucklander, ended up playing for the Makos this year.
"They're coming down because the Crusaders have decided that they believe this player could be a Crusader. They've looked at it and said 'where will he get his best development?' Well, the answer is Nelson."
The other side of it is the fact Tasman don't want to lose their most promising players to other provinces, like halfback Mitchell Drummond who headed straight for Canterbury when he left Nelson College.
"I drew a line in the sand and said we aren't going to lose another player."
Now, even if a player wanted to move to Christchurch, perhaps to study at university, they could remain in the Crusaders Academy but come back to play for Tasman.
"The kids are looking for a pathway and they're not just looking for a pathway to the Mitre 10 Cup, they're looking for a pathway to the Crusaders."
