New Zealand Rugby is acknowledging an ongoing shortage of specialist front rowers at a club level. 

Some clubs are even struggling to field teams due to a lack of props and hookers available to them. 

NZR’s Head of Rugby Participation and Development, Mike Hester told Piney it’s unfortunately not a new problem.  

He says it’s one they’ve faced for some years now, and they’re doing some work in both the short and long term to try and address it. 

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