Wanted man… Israel Folau playing against the All Blacks.
The risk of losing star Wallabies like Israel Folau after the 2015 World Cup has prompted the Australian Rugby Union to change its rules to allow overseas sabbaticals.
The Australian Rugby Union will dangle a sizeable carrot to lure the country’s top players to sevens in the lead up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
SMH
Under new contracting rules, approved by the ARU board this week and announced on Thursday, players who make the switch to sevens will be able to play out the year overseas in the lucrative Japanese domestic competition before returning to Australian rugby mid-way through the Super Rugby season in 2017.
While the offer will apply to current sevens players as well, it appears designed to encourage the country’s highest-profile players – such as Israel Folau – to commit to Australian rugby long term.
Assuming a 15’s player would miss most or all of the 2016 Super Rugby season while they make the transition to sevens, the provision would allow them to recoup in Japan any dip in income they experience in the first half of 2016.
In other changes, the ARU will have the power to offer its top players the freedom to play one season in a foreign domestic competition if they sign long-term deals, worth three years or more.
The so-called flexible contracts will only be offered to a small number of the top 25 to 30 players in Australia, with whom the ARU negotiates contracts directly and exclusively.
The five Super Rugby provinces will also be able to offer one flexible contract per season for any of their domestic players outside that top group.
Outside those players, the ARU has held fast to its policy that players based overseas long-term will not be eligible for Test selection.
“We’ve recognised that in the context of an increasingly global market for rugby players that we need to take a more flexible approach to player contracting,” ARU chief Bill Pulver said.
“As such, we need to be proactive and adapt our policies to best serve the interests of rugby in Australia.
“By adopting a flexible contracting model, we’re creating a platform for our players to experience what rugby has to offer in Australia and abroad, all while maintaining their allegiance to Australian Rugby over a long-term period.
“We’re confident this flexibility will encourage players to make significant long-term commitments to Australian rugby and help us to minimise the number of players who permanently re-locate to foreign leagues.
“Decisions regarding all flexible contracts will be made on a case-by-case basis, understanding that our key priority remains that the Qantas Wallabies and Super Rugby provinces have a strong and deep playing pool of talent available each year.”
WHAT DO THE CHANGES MEAN?
- Currently, players aren’t eligible to play for the Wallabies unless they’re registered in Australia and available for selection over a full Super Rugby season
- From 2016, however, the ARU can offer long-term `flexible contracts’ to a select number of players
- Each Super Rugby team will also be allowed to offer one `flexible contract’ per season to a non-nationally contracted player
- The deal allows them to play one season in a foreign domestic competition while contracted to the ARU
- Players who represent Australia at the Rugby Sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics will also be allowed to play the 2016/2017 Japanese domestic season without affecting their eligibility to play for the Wallabies upon their return
- The ARU will manage the contracts to make sure there’s a “sufficiently strong pool” of players available for Test selection each year