Aus, Arg, Wales, Scotland fear multiple eligibilty

[The Observer]

I had never seen any news on what happened with FORU's proposed amendments to eligibility regulations. Given the ARU's recruiting history in the last 10 years, our veto of the FORU proposal is an absolute disgrace. How could the amendments affect our world ranking anyway? :evil:

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/news/sports/sp1104/2811sp001.htm

ELIGIBILITY

At the Dublin meeting, a proposal to change eligibility was one of the hot topics.
It was voted on but was rejected.
"We were three votes shy of changing the eligibility rules," Tauili'ili says. "We got twelve votes and we only needed three more."
New Zealand was a strong supporter for a rule change.
"They strongly supported us on three conditions," Tauili'ili points out.

First the player must qualify for dual eligibility. ie. Grandfather must be born in Samoa or player must be born in Samoa
Must satisfy the stand down period of 12 months
Once you change allegiance, you will be restricted to play for that country for your entire career.
Countries who supported the notion to change eligibility rules were England (2 votes), France (2 votes), South Africa (2 vote), New Zealand (2 votes), Ireland (1 vote) and Japan (1vote).
Australia (2 ), Wales (1), Scotland (1), Argentina (1) and FIRA AER (1) opposed the change.
But despite losing the fight in Dublin, Tauili'ili says there is hope.
"The fact that we were three votes shy from changing the rule is an indication that there is real hope," he says. "It is an issue I will continue to push and hopefully we'll be able to change this rule in the future."

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Its sad that the rules wasn't change but the Pacific Islands have themselves to blame . It was the Pacific Islands who propose the current rules to stop NZ and Australia from choosing Pacific Islands international players in the All Blacks/Wallabies .

 

[The Observer]

PW, IIRC the IRB adjusted IRB Regulation 8.2 with the One Nation for Life rule in 2000, after the Welsh Rugby Union picked NZers Shane Howarth and Brett Sinkinson in the Grannygate affair. John O'Neill and the ARU had a big whinge too after Wales recruited Jason Jones Hughes in 1998.

Therefore, its harsh to blame the PIs.

 

[The Observer]

double post

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Yes ! But before that the Samoan Rugby Union ask the IRB to produce such law so the likes of Junior Tonu'u , Frank Bunce , Stephen Bachop , Micheal Jones , Alama Iremia , Andrew Blowers and others don't switch to the All Blacks when they wanted .

 

[The Observer]

Yes ! But before that the Samoan Rugby Union ask the IRB to produce such law so the likes of Junior Tonu'u , Frank Bunce , Stephen Bachop , Micheal Jones , Alama Iremia , Andrew Blowers and others don't switch to the All Blacks when they wanted .

Really? What year did Samoa lobby the IRB to restrict their movement? Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the truth of what you're saying, because that would fit in with the whole picture of how the eligibility laws have changed. Well, given the above is true, you're right that the PIs have to take some blame for the rule. Its a shame too.

IMO I am a supporter of players being able to represent the different countries they are eligible for, but it must go both ways. For example, Fiji might want to pick up Rokocoko later in his career, sweet, but they can't stand in the way of Sivivatu or Caucau going on to represent NZ.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Im a supporter of changing the rules back the way it was so the PI can be strong again with ex All Blacks and ex Wallabies bolsting most of the PI teams so it can be strong .

I don't know what year the Samoans lobby the IRB but i know that they lobby for a while before it was change .
The sad thing is that the PI didn't know at the time that NZ and Australia will sign most of its young players to play 1st XV rugby in NZ and OZ .
So when the senior players were ban from playing in more than two countries . The young players were free to choose who they will play for .
Now the Samoans want Blowers , Ieremia and other ex All blacks the law they lobby for has prevent them from playing .