NZ’s proposal to the IRB of an amendment to eligibility rules that would enable players to switch National allegiance late in their careers has been rejected by the International Rugby Board.
The proposal being that, after a one year sabbatical, players be permitted to switch from tier one to tier two nations & represent them at a national level. The proposal was borne from an idea to help lift tier two Nation’s skills while allowing players to give back to the land of their heritage.
The current All Blacks team includes several players either born in the Islands or who have Pacific heritage through parents or grandparents, but this rule would also benefit national teams on the African continent & across Europe as rugby becomes more global and players cross borders.
The change would particularly have benefited Pacific Island nations (who the IRB are always making noises about wanting to help) such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, who would have been able to call on players who might have ended international careers for other nations.
Tew said “The optimists among us thought we might get it through, however the reality is there is a group of northern unions that is very nervous about strengthening the island nations.”
The New Zealand move has not been entirely defeated and has been referred to the IRB’s regulations committee for further examination.
I am sure that the poachers would want to have it that tier 2 players could also move on to play for tier 1 teams.
Frank Bunce anyone?
Beast got his RSA passport yet ?
RP@2
Beast satisfies the IRB requirements, but not the SA government requirement that says you must be a citizen of the country before you can play in a representative team.
I think it way well come back to bite SA Rugby (PTY) LTD.
Scrumdown
I don’t have a problem with Beast … was just playing Pot-Kettle 😉
Beastie, as does any player, deserves the right to play where he is permitted under “law” … whose law is of course another story 🙂
I have a problem with both the IRB and NZ in this.
NZ is weekening the Island teams cause it is public knowledge that there is just about not one islander who dont have a grandfather or great grandfather in NZ.
NZ should be more responsible with their sucking in of Island players in he NZ system.
IRB on the other hand is watching this from the sideline.
Island teams would by much stronger if there was stringer rules bout your aunt or uncle or sisters boyfriend or whoever makes it leagal for you to play for another country.
If anything the rules shuld be simplified to say that you can play for the country where either you, your father, or mother was born, end of story.
If you moved to another county and never represented your country, and becomes a citizen of that country, then it’s OK to play for that country, end of story and easy to control.
Ig
Most PIs in the ABs were born in NZ or emigrated with their parents under age of 10 & I do not recall seeing Graham Henry tour Pacific Islands’ schools in the hunt for up & coming players.
NZ *is* a Pacific Island & folk from near by islands choose to migrate there because they want a better life for their children & often already have extended family there – ergo a natural social support structure.
More Players from Samoan team were born in NZ than locally but have parents /or grandparents from there. So, mathematically speaking, Samoa is poaching NZers 😉
Why not let them give back to the land of their heritage after a grace period ?
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