There are 26 in the race, all Kiwis, and four among the favourites - no it's not the Melbourne Cup, but the race to become the next All Blacks coach.

All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea has questioned whether international coaches should be held to the same eligibility laws as players.

Test eligibility is a hit topic in the game, particularly amongst developing nations such as those in the Pacific Islands, which provide so many players to tier one countries.

DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea in action during the recent World Cup.

However, World Rugby's one-nation-for-life rule prevents them from going back to represent their heritage, despite numerous calls for a stand-down period to be introduced.

Coaches, on the other hand, are free to move around, with Eddie Jones, for example, having coached the Wallabies and Springboks (as an assistant) before leading England to the World Cup final earlier this month.

READ MORE:

* Smith gave up drinking after tryst

* Wallabies warned of Folau rift

* Barnes and THAT forward pass

Savea has quickly gained a reputation as one of New Zealand's more insightful and thoughtful athletes and he raised the issue with his Twitter followers.

"Random thought - rugby union players aren't allowed to switch allegiance once playing for their country," he said. "Should the same rule apply to coaches?"

Random thought - rugby union players aren't allowed to switch allegiance once playing for their country.

Should the same rule apply to coaches? — ardie savea (@ardiesavea) November 28, 2019

Such a rule would prevent the likes of Kiwis Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt from ever coaching the All Blacks, with the former having previously coached Ireland and Wales while Schmidt recently finished up with Ireland.

While both have ruled themselves out of the race to replace Steve Hansen, Gatland at least has stated a desire to coach the All Blacks in the future.

The main argument against such a rule is that it limits the flow of ideas, allowing for a better product globally.

STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES If coaches were held to the same eligibility rules as players, Warren Gatland would not be allowed to coach the All Blacks.

However, the current eligibility rules for players also restrict the growth of tier two nations such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

There are numerous examples of players moving abroad for the lure of big money club deals and being lost to that Pacific nation by fulfilling residency requirements and then representing their new nation, in perhaps only a handful of games.

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare boss Dan Leo has been campaigning for a change to the laws which he believes are unfair on developing nations.

"The systems in place are actually conducive to keeping teams like the Pacific Islands poor," Leo told TVNZ in August. "But if you go to a country like France, where I do a lot of work, we're just propping up French professional rugby, especially when you go down to the second and third divisions, it's Pacific Island sourced.

"At the moment, if you want to be a professional player, you've got to leave. That's the reality of the situation."