Updated at 08.00
FORMER IRELAND AND Leinster star Luke Fitzgerald thinks the current residency rules in rugby are plain ‘wrong’ and would like to see more hurdles before players are able to play internationally for an adopted country.
Under current World Rugby rules, three years of residency is enough to qualify any uncapped player for a nation even if they arrived with no blood ties.
Ireland have not been shy in taking advantage of the rules as they stand with Jared Payne, CJ Stander, Richardt Strauss and Quinn Roux among those to have graduated from ‘project player’ to senior Irish international.
“I think it’s wrong,” Fitzgerald said unequivocally, echoing the sentiment of World Rugby vice-chairman Augustin Pichot.
“I know that’s controversial but… and it’s no reflection on those guys, they’re doing everything within the rules.
I want to see Irish guys in there. Are we not good enough to fill the spots? I don’t know if there’s a big enough gap, to justify it?”
Fitzgerald reels off a list of men who he sees as being key Irish players — from Johnny Sexton to Stu Olding, Sean O’Brien to Robbie Henshaw — to make his point that Ireland are producing talented rugby internationals.
The 2009 Lion brushes off the notion that team morale would be impacted by a player on three-year residency coming to oust a homegrown. However, he does admit he has been annoyed when put in the situation himself.
“Would it affect me if there was a guy from another place getting picked ahead of me? I’ve been in that spot, and it does piss you off, definitely it does.
“You’ve come all the way up through the internationals, through the system, and then all of a sudden some guy comes in and is perceived to be better because he’s from a different place, and it’s ‘let get this guy in.’ I think it’s really disappointing.
From a team perspective, it won’t affect things at all. They’ll be focused on their own job, on the game that weekend, the guy next to them isn’t really their concern, or shouldn’t be. You have to focus on your own job in international rugby, it’s too fast, with too many good players opposite you.
“I don’t know if being born in a different part of the world makes you a better player. I think they (southern hemisphere international teams) are better than us, but if they (individual players) are not making those international teams, why would we be taking them?”
Every rule needs a loophole, but there is growing concern that three years – although a full quarter of a very good rugby career – is too low of a bar to hit and a five or seven-year residency would be a more accurate reflection of players who genuinely made a home in a country.
“I’m talking about flying in a guy who ‘can look good in another two or three years’, or ‘we’ve got a gap in the academy, so we’re going to try fill that with someone from abroad’, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Fitzgerald was speaking to promote Sky Sport’s coverage of the autumn internationals, and Ireland will not be the only host in this series pitting players born and reared in the southern hemisphere against tourists from the same half of the world.
“It really dilutes it for me,” Fitzgerald continues, “I mean what’s the point? It’s like Barbarians v Barbarians, why do that? I don’t understand that.
“It diminishes it for me, now I’m a spectator, I can say that. I’d much rather see the Irish team v the New Zealand team, or whoever it may be.
I’m talking about flying in a guy who ‘can look good in another two or three years’, or ‘we’ve got a gap in the academy, so we’re going to try fill that with someone from abroad’, that’s what I’m talking about.
“It’s no reflection on the guys who are operating within the rules. I’d just much rather see fully Irish guys there.”
Sky Sports pundits Gordon D’Arcy and Luke Fitzgerald were promoting a huge autumn of Irish rugby coverage on Sky Sports, where viewers can watch the ERCC, Guinness Pro12 and Guinness Series all in one place. Customers can upgrade to Sky Sports now for just €25 a month for 6 months by searching ‘Sky Sports Offer.’
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I disagree with the three year residency rule, but my sympathy isn’t so much with Irish players who miss out, more so with the foreign unions who develop players from childhood, only to have them hoovered up by a richer one.
Can you imagine the annoyance if Gary Ringrose became England or France’s latest project player? It’s just wrong.
For me, it should be 3 years below the age of 18 or 6 years after that. I wouldn’t want to stop someone who came to Ireland at the age of 13 or 14 playing for the country, but I find the idea of scouring the world for players who can be brought in a bit absurd. It’s one step removed from having teams as a franchise system.
Totally agree.
I’d have no problem with Adeolukun representing Ireland. He came here as a child and became a professional rugby player. The rest came here as professional rugby players – depriving the unions who developed them of their services.
The smell of sour grapes off him.
That doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all Chris. I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with it, but one thing I would add to that is this: plenty of people move to Ireland after their teens, sometimes well after that. Often, it’s for a job offer, a move made for financial/professional reasons. After around five years of living and working in this country, they can apply for Irish citizenship, and are, after that, considered as Irish people. Why have one standard for Rugby players, another for the rest? Is it because living somewhere for five years makes you “Irish” but not “Irish enough”? Again, I’m not necessarily disagreeing with your idea, I just think that seeing this issue of nationality as a black and white matter, when in these days of multiculturalism and increased mobility, I feel that nationality is becoming more and more grey.
How can there be a whiff of sour grapes off Luke Fitz?
Made his ireland debut as a teenager, capped for the Lions, one of the most talented players we have ever had and was unfortunate to have a career blighted and ultimately ended by injury.
If you don’t have a clue what you are talking about, don’t comment.
It would have been interesting to see just how good he was if he had a injury free career.
: If we are diluting the national team , are we not also doing the same for the provinces . Elson , Icewa, Payne , Halstead all helped our provinces win H-cups . Are these victories dilueted . Were these men of Munster ? no – of course not . But ask any munster supporters if they see themselves as just a club like sarries or toulon , most would balk and spit at the idea . We basked in our provisional pride . Munster by the grace of God etc . I admire a guy who leaves his home and is talented and committed enough to get himself onto a tier 1 rugby nations team . ist not like soccer where any guy who played two good games in the championship can get a shot . So wake up folks , England are going to dominate with massive player and financial advantages , so lets go back to being whipping boys , let’s reject the Bundi’s that helped take Connacht to places they could only have dreamed of , That guy could go anywhere he wanted just like Ben teo did the second he got a sniff , but he didn’t , he has committed and i commend his commitment , just like i respect CJ playing with every fiber of his being week in week out . I for one welcome true talent that enhances and drives up standards .
No Chris, you’re underestimating the problem. France have an academy in Fiji dedicated to identifying young talent. You’d only be giving the thumbs up to that. Besides, someone who came at “13 or 14″ would be qualified in time to play for the under-20s if there was a 5-year residency rule. Lads aren’t making their international debuts at 19.
He’s dead right, and fair play to him for being so brutally honest. It is completely diluting the international game.
I would say he is not dead right . So there !
People talk about three years like it is a bank holiday weekend in Dingle. These guys make a commitment to Ireland for life. It takes three years to qualify but once they do they will be here for the foreseeable. They make a decision to come to Ireland and make it their home. Fitz makes the point about project players getting in ahead of Irish players but fails to see how this will force all players to raise their game. If someone gets in ahead of you then work hard to displace them, don’t moan that they shouldn’t qualify.
Exactly. The best qualified player should play. Simple as that.
What’s to stop the IRFU from just offering the elite u19 players in NZ, SA , and AUS 3 year contracts they simply could not turn down. That would fast track us to World Cup glory.
Where is the line? How many is too many?
They’re not moving to Ireland because they love Ireland. They’re moving to Ireland because they are offered extremely lucrative contracts far in excess of what they’d make back home. If they were offered more to go to England or France they would have.
You can’t deny this fact
Have you seen what players get paid in France and England?! Etzebeth is reportedly going to earn £40,000 a game… and he can’t even play for England!
If you are worried about u19 players being pursued as project players, then I’m sorry to say this, but extending the rule to five years won’t make that go away. France will probably poach some of these guys. Provinces probably wouldn’t go after those players as they generally want to use their NIQ/PP spots on players who are already ready to start. I think that using PP’s makes sense for the provinces, as it allows them to acquire foreign players in positions that their own options, academy and senior, don’t adequately address, and also makes it easier to negotiate with certain players. The only worry is that we end up selecting too many of them, but I think that we’re nowhere near as bad in terms of how many PP caps are given as many are saying.
What’s etzebeth got to do with it? He’s an established world class player. Our project players are project players because they aren’t at his level, hence they don’t get picked by their own country, and don’t demand similar size paychecks in England or France
I don’t care about what France thinks is ok. Their team is a joke.
I care about what Ireland does. I believe we have enough homegrown talent that we develop through schools and clubs with thousands of volunteer hours at all ages to produce a national team that competes on the international stage.
If you were to pick an Irish team next week without the project players would it be noticeably weaker? Payne and stander are the two in contention(and the actual team selection can be debated plenty next week), but it’s not inconceivable that the team next week has no project players.
I used him as an example as to the financial power of the English game. I can show you other examples if you like…
@sup: Stander might have issue with your statement to be fair — the way he sings Amhrán na bhFiann before the match doesn’t show he’s in it for the money. Listen to him talk not only about Munster, but his passion for his “new” home… he’s in it for the long haul, not the bash
Exactly, Dan. Finally someone talking sense.
Every country does it. New Zealand have been the worst for it historically, flying kids in from the Pacific Islands to play schools. Would anyone here have an issue if Aki gets a game in 12 months? Bleyendaal? Does anyone have an issue with Stander? Payne? If the players come in, buy into what it means to be Irish and clearly want to play, I don’t see the problem. If there are better options in Ireland missing out I can’t think of any at the moment.
The fact is the rule shouldn’t be there in the first place. 3 years is pathetic and any Tom/Dick/Harry can rock in for the show overtaking players who are close and have worked on it for years
What do you mean “buy into what it means to be irish”? You can’t buy irishness. You are irish or you’re not irish. It doesn’t matter if other countries are doing it, it’s still wrong for everyone.
Yes I would have an issue with aki playing just as I do with stander, Strauss and Payne.
The point of international rugby is to represent YOUR country not just anyone who’ll pick you.
If that’s the road we want to go down then we’re nothing but international franchises playing each other with country names on our shirts.
The IRFU is embarrassing themselves in headhunting these project players.
And how are we even benefiting from this dilution of the Irish jersey? We’re not exactly drafting in Dan Carter. These are all cast offs.
Aki- we already have plenty of exciting centers.
Stander- more than enough backrowers.
Strauss- never more than a squad player.
Payne- first xv player, but I believe we have superior centers and a superior fb in zebo.
(Nothing personal against the players I mentioned. I’m a fan of all of them and they always give 100% when playing)
The only 2 first 15 players at the moment are Stander and Payne. Stander is better than any back row we have. Payne has been brilliant for Ireland. His defensive positioning is outstanding.
Not so sure stander will be first choice with omahony back fit.
Anyway, what difference does it make if it’s one or ten players? What’s the right number of foreign players allowed?
You absolutely can “buy in” to being Irish, through working hard and committing to the country and earning citizenship, which should be the only benchmark for being considered Irish (and representing the country in sports).
Stander > Heaslip at 8. He is also younger, so long term (next World Cup) fitness and form permitting he will be Ireland’s starting 8.
We shouldn’t have settled for stander. We should have tempted vunipola to come over before he got capped.
Nationality isn’t as black and white as it’s made out to be. I’m in favour of extending the rule to five years, but would you honestly say that your nationality is decided at birth? If so, then Adeolokun, who came through the underage system, is ineligible. What makes a person Irish?
@David: Stander is not a better 6 the O’Brien, or O’Mahony, he is not better 7 then Van Der Flyer and he is not fit to lace the boots of Jamie Heaslip at 8.
Just because every country does it doesn’t make it right.
It’s a totally unethical practice that exists because it suits the big rugby nations.
The difficulty is that, should we continue to play against NZ and Aus, who both stack their teams with Pacific islanders, we will get beaten repetitively. In the end there has to be a balance so we can compete and keep rugby as the best performing international team sport in Ireland.
Should we slip down the rankings, we will see a future fall-off in young players joining the game.
I agree that the 3 year rule is not fit for purpose and it needs a WRU agreement worldwide to replace it.
You’re dead right. I think it’s a bit churlish of Fitz and the 42 going into this the day after Aki signs a 3 year deal.
The difficulty is that the rule is ridiculous.
The argument that because Oz and NZ pack their teams with Pacific Islanders means we should pack our team with players from abroad that are better than what we have ruins international rugby.
The IRB should step up and put a stop to it before international rugby essentially becomes club rugby.
I agree that nationality isn’t what it used to be- it’s not simply where you were born. How many mates do we all have now that love all over the world, far from where they were born?
I’ve said it on here before somewhere- age graduated system.
If you arrive before the age of 18- No restriction. 18-21, 3 years. 22-25, 5 years. 25+, 7 years.
Maybe these aren’t the right age brackets, or specific qualifying periods that would optimize it, but I think it’s a system that reflects the moving around we do in 2016 globally and prevents opportunism by aging players who didn’t cut it in their first choice country.
The parentage and grand-parentage rule solves a lot of this. I wouldn’t have a problem with a kid who played all through schools/underage system but born somewhere else representing Ireland.
Do people really not think that our exiles have a huge amount of pride to don the Irish jersey? The rule is fairly floppy at best but it’s not like we’re taking the piss either. I’m glad they want to play for Ireland. As a Munster fan, I know how stander is thought of in limerick and the rest of Munster. He’s thought of as one of our own. The way he was received down there is a huge reason why he wanted to play for Ireland. He wants to represent his adopted province. You have to appreciate fitzgeralds position I suppose but coming out saying this stuff now is doing no one any favours.
These aren’t our exiles. These are people with no connection to Ireland who moved here to advance their career. Good luck to them on that, but it shouldn’t let them play for Ireland.
The problem isnt a disliking of foreign players or that someone cant become Irish over time. The problem is the cynical abuse of this rule. There should be some way of policing how nations recruit for their national team. Ive no problem with a lad who moves to a country, loves it there, decides to stay, becomes a citizen and then represents them. The problem is the project systems where nations effectively steal players whove come up through other nations acadamies. Its unfair on the country that developed the player and its unfair on players who dream of representing their country only to be replaced by a guy who’s there for the money.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Another two quick points: 1) in the long run it will be bad for rugby as the best team wont be the one with the best underage development programmes, it will be the team with the most money (basically becoming another tier of club rugby). 2) im really sick of the hypocricy on these message boards. If bundee aki was an Irish guy playing in France or England, all the people who are wetting themelves with excitment about him playing for us next year would be raging instead and organising boycotts
I think they should change the rule to 5 yrs but lets be honest now.. Fitzy is trying to make a career in rugby punditry so a few controversial comments will only help his cause .. i just hope he does not turn out like Franno.. god help us
@Munster4ever:
Fizty and Franno ?
God help us indeed.
They will need 2 seats in the studio for him. One for himself and one for his ego. He’s already insufferable as a pundit. A throw back to two years ago you’d swear he won the 6 nations on his own by the way he was going on on Newstalk. He hardly played at all.
@Shane Cal: He is a complete gowl.
@Shougeki: Himself and Heaslip are two of the biggest muppets anyone could meet. And that’s from a Leinster season ticket holder.
I thought Fitzy was a poor pundit for Skysports on Sunday ..he needs to learn to lose his bias … painful to listen to .. if Steyn had his kicking boots on Leinster would have got nothing from the game but yet Fitzy tried to gloss it over
Dayvid – I have met Fitzy a number of times through mini rugby and always found him to be very pleasant and excellent with the kids. He always had time for them and engaged well with them too, they always enjoyed his visits.
Finally, an Irish rugby (former) player gets off the fence.
It’s totally wrong. Club rugby can play whoever they want but international rugby should be for people of that nation or the recent diaspora.
It will further screw the smaller competing rugby nations who are trying to improve like the Pacific Islanders, Georgia, Romania etc.
What about the Irish player who played for Kazakhstan in the World Cup qualifiers 10 years ago?
http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/rugby-nomad-ready-to-take-a-stan-26213144.html
Do they get to keep their best players?
The rule hardly is to the beneifit of smaller nations. They may get players that can’t get their game for a bigger nation but that’s missing the point entirely.
It’s like saying Brentford buy more players than Man City.
The point I’m making re Georgia and Romania is that with a rule like this being used more and more, how can a small rugby playing nation hope to achieve success or even improve if they have really good players that are lured elsewhere. It will happen in the future, I have no doubt.
Italy and Japan have benefited because they have cash to pay top players to live in their country.
It is a silly rule that is not designed to help out the developing rugby nations.
It’s diluting the international game and I don’t see the reasoning behind it other than it is a rule that suits the people who make the decisions.
Not sure how much of a say the Georgian or Romanian rugby unions have in it all.
All interesting points but it doesn’t make it right. An Irishman has no business playing for Kazakhstan if he’s spent a few summers there the same way a South African, in my opinion, who lived here for three years has no business representing Ireland.
I’ve always respected those players and have no personal issue with them.
I know in soccer a player must have an Irish passport to play for Ireland.
Well said Luke, the three year rule has really diluted international rugby and shouldn’t be allowed.
I think Irish people are bit racist here, when Stander was qualified not many people complained despite the fact we always produced alot of top quality back row forwards.. but I do think it should be restricted to, say 2 players match day squad despite how long they have been in the country
How is it a racist argument to want players from a country representing that country?
I have commented on here before about Stander, Payne etc.
Its nothing against the lads personally. They’re both great players.
But when I shout on the irish rugby team its because I identify and connect with them and their backgrounds as similar to mine. As would a Fijian shouting on Fiji etc.
It’s professional sport not the community games.
Luke who ?
So he agrees project players strengthen the Irish team, that their inclusion doesn’t negatively affect morale but would like it scrapped because it personally frustrated him to be dropped for better players? I’m sure those from outside private schools and not from a rugby family really feel for all the hard work he put to move up the system, absolutely and entirely on merit.
If there’s one positive to take from this story it’s that a proud Irishman and talented player like CJ Stander is a current international while a whinging underperformer like Luke Fitzgerald is not.
Personally I think the 3 year rule is wrong. Players should have some blood relation here. Although Stander has been an exception to the rule. Maybe the IRFU should have a rule allowing only a few playing at any one time.
No borders lads.
I for one can see pride in CJ Standers face when he lines up for the anthems. Sadly i can’t say the same about some of the others, no matter what part of Ireland they come from. If he became an Irish citizen then surely he is as Irish as Luke Fitzgerald??
@Darren Mccarthy: Ever think he might be acting ? LoL!
@MattHedigan: no flags.
A pretty ignorant statement from Fitzgerald IMO. Firstly, these guys are not being picked because they’re from another country. They’re being picked because they have the potential to be international-standard players. The reason they’re not making it into test sides in their native countries is not because they’re second-rate hand-me-downs players, which is what he implies, but because those nations are awash with extraordinary talent (some of which is also imported, as with New Zealand) and so some of these players would never see test rugby if they didn’t up sticks and ply their trade elsewhere. It’s not just because “they’re from another country”. A ridiculous comment. The bitterness from him about going through the Irish system from a young age and potentially being usurped at senior level by a guy who isn’t from Ireland is a rather narrow-minded perspective, since he fails to consider that these guys probably worked just as hard at underage levels in academy systems in their respective countries and took a fairly significant gamble to move abroad, break into the starting 15 at a club, stay at that level for three years. It is not, as he insinuates, a case of a guy just waltzing into the jersey (Michael Bent notwithstanding, but he wasn’t good enough and therefore didn’t last). I wonder if Fitzgerald would have the balls to say all this to the face of someone like Jared Payne or CJ Stander, who have committed totally to this country, playing ferociously for their provinces, learning the anthems, and putting down roots here. Imagine saying to CJ, “Sorry lad, you’re from South Africa. You don’t deserve to wear that green jersey.” Please. And let’s be honest, there are plenty on here who would happily choose Jared Payne over Rob Kearney at fullback on current form. The system is strictly managed. How many non-irish do we have in our side in a give day? Maybe three. This is not like the Irish soccer team.
How should the unions who develop Stander et al be compensated for losing players to richer unions? That’s what concerns me and seemingly most people on here – not that these players aren’t considered “Irish enough”.
Also, Test rugby is not the be all and end all. All of these unions need players like Stander, Payne and Strauss playing for their franchises, even if they don’t make it at Test level.
You might not think that test rugby is the be all and end all, but it sure as hell is everything to these players, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it. So I don’t see the relevance of that in this context. You also might not think it’s about the “Irishness” of the players, but Fitzgerald seems to think it is (and I’m remarking on that more than anything else).
How should an ex-pat’s home union be compensated?
They shouldn’t be. They should look at how they screwed up by writing off a player as capable and passionate as CJ Stander and telling him he had no futures in test rugby.
Do you think New Zealand are over there mourning the loss of Jared Payne and thinking, “jeez we could have had this guy playing in the centre for us”? No they are not. Because they’ve had the likes of Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, and SBW for years. They don’t “miss” these players or rue their loss. They just don’t want anybody else to benefit from talent they were never going to use.
It was actually New Zealand’s reaction Ulster signing Jared Payne all those years ago that was the basis of the point I was making, so yes they do miss him.
He may have picked up a cap or two, perhaps none, but he could have been a mainstay in one of their franchises for a decade. That was essentially the point NZ made.
@B Collins: How does what Fitzgerald has said constitute an “ignorant statement”? He’s been around teams and has experience of how selection works. His knowledge is based on what has happened to him and around him, so it’s the opposite of ignorance if anything.
@B Collins: At least there’s a Granny rule in soccer. You don’t just get in by standing in Ireland for three years.
How is the granny rule better? A guy who has a granny here but never spent a day here is no more Irish than the man on the moon! At least these guys have been in the country for three years and have been absorbing the culture, the identity, in some cases raising their kids here. I’ve been living abroad for two and a half and I can tell you that I definitely feel an attachment and loyalty to my adopted home. I definitely buy into it, I definitely consider it part of my identity. It’s a part of who I am now and I love it as much as I love Ireland. And that’s not even after three years. LF saying this now after so many years playing with club and country with these guys, who is now writing them off as imports who don’t deserve their chances. He never said anything before. Seems like he either didn’t have the guts to say it or didn’t believe it and is just saying it now to improve his stock as a pundit.
He can speak more freely now that he has retired from playing. When he was a player, his job was to play, and now that he’s a pundit his job is to present his informed opinions. I don’t see what the problem is with him letting his feelings be known now.
With regard to imports, how many is too many? Five? Ten? 15? 23? Is there a number that is too many, or would you be happy if there were no actual Irish players in the Irish rugby team?
Just to be clear, I don’t actually have a problem with individual foreign players. I just think it would be good to remove the attractiveness of pursuing these players instead of investing in homegrown talent
How do you know a lad from England with Irish grandparents doesn’t connect with Ireland? I have grandparents from Kerry and I definitely connect with Kerry. I have other family who dont so everyone is different.
Without doubt the granny rule has and will be exploited but it’s better, in my view, than a residency rule. Having said that, I wouldn’t be against it being brought back to just parents
These are obviously long held beliefs…why wait till now to share them. Trying to make his way a pundit, needs a unique selling point. Should his beliefs carry through to coaches and team management? Best qualified man for the job, it’s how the rest of us compete in the real world.
No luke them players in your position were and are better than you. The rules are there for a reason. Why can’t we do the same as some other countries. We have great talent no doubt about it but maybe we just lack that bit of class.
I will agree with Luke once Niyi Adeolukun is naturalised and playing for Ireland :)
@Peter Cavey: Moved here as a kid, played in school, played in the AIL. Nobody with any sense would give out about him representing Ireland
Is that a race comment or am i misunderstanding your intention?
@Range Rover P38: I’m sure its not ill intent but it’s still disappointing people would assume someone isn’t Irish because of their race. The same people who were shocked when they first heard Zebo speak with a cork accent no doubt.
Is feidir le Fitz gaeilge a chaint chomh maith.. Maith an fear! Fir taiseacht at ann ..
Ya, tá canúint D4 aige sa ghaeilge freisin! Tá sé saghas greannmhar
Fitzgerald is a very good analyst/pundit. I agree with his sentiments here. International rugby should be a reflection of how good a country is at developing their own players.
One year’s residency if you have a grandparent from the country in question, and five years if there’s no link sounds about right. It needs to be increased to whatever length will stop unions abusing the system.
You need to get your head out of luuuukes arse .. he has been a pundit for a couple of months and is no analyst due to his biase
Who wants a national team with second rate NZ/SA/AUS players who can`t make their national teams, but who qualify for non-na/tional teams due to residency rules ?
No idea what he’s talking about. Saying conflicting things. Sounding bitter.
7 years IS a career in pro rugby. LF should know that better than anyone.
(Payne would be that next year anyway and we would have lost a few
years of world class defending, Ringrose IS coming on-line at the perfect time Luke
just be a little patient instead of blowing the lid). Regardless of the years
I’m sure the purists will always be moaning.
why didn’t he bother mentioning this in the last 8 years or so? he was a great player when he wasn’t injured, now it seems he just wants to make a name as a pundit, sour grapes if you ask me
Why wouldn’t he want to make his name as a pundit? That’s what he does now
He is hell of alot to learn being an unbaised and balanced pundit .. he was woeful on Sunday .. cringeworthy..
The problem is that coaching in many countries is obviously very poor. The fact that countries like Ireland are doing this instead of coaching their own through will only make the coaching level drop further. The numbers playing may rise for now, but the next generation wont be bothered as they will be well aware that all their work could be for nothing as the IRFU draft in some Polynesian to take your position at club and international level.
But the IRFU’s greatest strength has never really been coaching, their greatest strength has always been marketing, so no doubt they will put a gloss coat on this behavior!
Its project players who come to Ireland and raises our game for 80 minutes and plays consistent rugby.I have no problems with this and it only makes our homegrown players raise their tempo and play for 80 min.players like luke Fitzgerald have been brilliant for Leinster and Ireland but we dont have a conveyor belt like New Zealand or South Africa and we do need players snapping at the heals of older players or we will never win the World Cup.
Just glad that our football team, past and present have the right idea
Personally, I definitely think the current rules should be changed, way too much room for exploitation. Liking the rules to eligibility for citizenship is the system that works best for me, though the suggestions of only allowing teens who grew up in their countries and forcing the grandparent rule ones to wait a year have some merit. I think that if you are a citizen of a country, you should be considered as being from that country and therefore should be considered eligible to represent your country. Also agree with those mentioning the commitment that many PP’s have made to qualify for Ireland. I think that we are a bit too liberal in bringing in PP’s, like NIQ’s, in certain positions, like how I view Ludik as blocking the path of young players, and Rhys Marshall as being a talented injury-prone hooker when we have four more like him. We should only bring in Project players when the Province faces long term issues in a position and other home grown options can’t fix them. I also think though, that we shouldn’t be so angry about guys who are giving so much of themselves to this country.
In my opinion the 3 year rule is wrong as it tends to hurt smaller rugby nations who lose players as well as up and coming players in the countries that take them in who lose their place and chance to develop. To me it should be fairly simple: 1) You are entitled to play for a country if you are, or are entitled to be, a citizen of that country 2) You live long enough in a country as a legal resident to eventually obtain citizenship, just like any other foreign member of society
RTE are showing the games in Ireland to.