Blackie, who played 57 games for the Highlanders from 2001-07 and 73 for Otago from 1999-2006 as an openside flanker, has become fully involved with player welfare and is the International Rugby Players' Association's member services manager.
The 34-year-old said it was a role he enjoyed and something he had grown into.
''When I was in New Zealand, I was on the board of the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association. I then spent my first three or four years years here working on some more study.
"I kept in contact with the NZRPA and then, a couple of years ago, I had an opportunity to do a job placement at Sport Hawkes Bay,'' he said.
NZRPA chief Rob Nichol then wanted a hand with the International Rugby Players' Association and Blackie put his hand up.
''I came on board in a part-time role and initially, when it started out, it was not too demanding. But it has moved into a full-time role. It can be difficult to get on top of, combining it with still playing.''
Blackie was in Dublin last week at the inaugural IRB conference on rugby and said the game was always on the move.
''There are plenty of issues. This is professional sport so issues are always going to be around. We aim to be working together with the IRB and approach various things so as to get the best outcome for everyone concerned.''
He was helping set up a Pacific Islands Players Association and was also seeking to establish player groups in Japan and the United States.
A player advisory group made up of international players had been formed and the ongoing issue of having a global season was never far away.
With sevens in the Olympics, governance of the sport was important as more countries got involved in the game.
The Rugby World Cup was a commercially successful tournament but Blackie said it was ridiculous that some players in tier two countries did not get well compensated to play in it.
''We are talking about a tournament that is looking at making a 150 million [$NZ294 million] profit, yet some guys who are involved are giving blood, sweat and tears for little reward.''
Blackie, who studied sports management extramurally in Japan through Massey University, is still playing for Kobe Steel, just outside Osaka, although the end is in sight. He aims to hang up his boots at the end of this season, next March, but is unsure where he will go then.
He has been in Japan for six and a-half years - although he spent 2009 with the Blues in Auckland - and said it was a nice place to live.
''Money is part of it, I suppose. But it is a good lifestyle when you have a young family. Most of the guys over here get to spend a lot of time with their kids. It is very safe, so you have no worries about that.''
Blackie and his wife, Nicola, have two children, Lola (3) and Joe (1).
While they were of preschool age, things were manageable, but once they turned 5 it would get more difficult in terms of education, he said.
On the field, Kobe Steel was travelling along all right. Former New Zealand league player Fraser Anderson was in the side along with South Africans Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant and Andreis Bekker.
Two foreign players are allowed on the field at any one time.
Having been in Japanese rugby for a decent period, Blackie said it was on the upward curve.
''I think it has improved. Though it depends a lot on what club you are at. It can be dictated by finance but most clubs are well resourced.
''From when I first got here, the level of professionalism has increased a lot. Not just the players, but the coaches, the management. They were way behind New Zealand when I first got here. But now they are right up with what is going on.''
