17 Test AB to Play for Tonga at World Cup
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Someone who may have played a handful of games, it probably wouldnt bother me ,
But veterans , guys like Mils or Nonu , i wouldnt like to see , they are all black legends , for me it would kind of spoil their legacy
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We all know what would happen. Good young prospects, say Aumua, would be told to play for a PI. Then, with some international experience, we would take him back. Hell we could send some to get experience in England or, cough, take Hadleigh back from Wales if he turns out to be good. And then that would be stopped because that's far worse than the current system.
If it's denying your rights to go from Tier 1 to Tier 2, the it's denying those same rights to do the reverse.
Leave it exactly as it is. FIFA have had that rule forever, because every other rule is worse.
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The eligibility rules are a bit of a farce really aren't they. Should we go down the soccer route where it is citizenship based? I suggest that's the way to go. The problem then is where someone has more than one passport, again there it's probably a case of make a decision and that's it. It would mean likes of Fifita, Naholo, Tamanivalu, Fekitoa etc. more likely to play for country of birth than adopted country.
Some of the rules (grandparents, residency etc.) are very much relics of the amateur era.
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The law of perverse outcomes suggests this won't help PI nations. In fact, it will hinder them. As nations that benefit from the grandparent rule, how much easier will it be for young blokes to hold out in the hope another, richer, nation selects them first allowing them to earn beaucoup money?
Then you've got established players who have put on a few pounds, playing non-competitive leagues electing to represent? What message does that send?
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this is gaining a lot of coverage...although not sure why people think Rugby needs to relax its laws to be like League...
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I would do two things:
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Scrap the second team rule and change it to national teams only - i.e. You play for sevens or fifteen you are permanently tied to that country.
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Ensure all players get the same money per match, regardless of which team they play on. This is NOT club, this is national. Share of the gate going to home players only is clear bullshit and completely unfair and hindering to the PI and the smaller European nations.
I don't have sympathy for Piutau - he made his decisions and used NZ rugby to create a fantastic platform for himself. As many others have and no problem with it myself, but I agree with Johnstone's article in full.
If there was no direct financial incentive and scheduling was fair for all then we would see a slightly different distribution of players in my view. I'd still expect many to strive for ABs / Australia though.
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@majorrage
As I understand they can’t do your first idea for sevens and remain an Olympic sport (can someone confirm?)
Personally, I don’t think rugby should be an Olympic sport. That plus five year eligibility rule, and problem solved.
And fuck you Piutau.
