Caucau quits Fiji

[southern warrior]

CAUCAUNIBUCA QUITS FIJI IN BID TO BECOME ALL BLACK
Nov 27th 2003 12:28pm

Suva, Nov 27 AFP - Rupeni Caucaunibuca has quit Fiji's national rugby side in a bid to become an All Black.

The Fijian Rugby Union said the news "should be a wake up call that the second tier of world rugby was in danger of collapsing".

However, the New Zealand Rugby Union was surprised by the news, a spokesman telling NZPA under current rules he could not play for the All Blacks: "End of story."

"I believe I have done my part for Fiji," Caucaunibuca was quoted as saying in Thursday's Fiji Times.

"I am switching allegiance and going for a spot in the All Blacks team,"

Caucaunibuca, 24, returns to New Zealand this week to start pre-season training with the Super 12 Auckland Blues.

Under current eligibility regulations Caucaunibuca cannot switch countries because he has played for Fiji in both sevens and fifteens. He scored three tries for Fiji in the recent World Cup.

However, a review of eligibility regulations backed by New Zealand and Australia may see rules being re-written.

Caucaunibuca said he was making the move in anticipation of a change in the International Rugby Board (IRB) rules.

FRU chief executive Pio Bosco Tikoisuva said there was no understanding of how difficult it was existing in the shadow of "major rugby economies".

"Can you imagine what signal this sends out to our stakeholders, to our young players who dream of becoming like Rupeni?" Tikoisuva said.

"If we can't keep our best players then where does that leave us?"

The IRB is expected to decide on the review of the eligibility issue at their next council meeting, scheduled for April.

 

[ibeme]

Under current eligibility regulations Caucaunibuca cannot switch countries because he has played for Fiji in both sevens and fifteens. He scored three tries for Fiji in the recent World Cup.

However, a review of eligibility regulations backed by New Zealand and Australia may see rules being re-written.

That's just moving the goal posts to ensure that they can use the smaller nations as feeding grounds to make their national teams stronger. Makes a mockery of the notion 'playing for your country' and cheapens the entire test match concept.

 

[weasel]

That's awful news. I'm hoping the rules don't change and he has to stick with Fiji.

 

[bayrep]

It shows that IRB has to do something for the 2nd tier of rugby teams. Or you will get more players putting their hands up for NZ/AUS. I hope the current rule stays once you have played for a country that is it. Money and consistant competition against the big nations will solve most of their problems.

 

[thomo]

I think they should change the rules... to make it harder for players born in other countries to play for NZ/Aus/etc. Imagine some of the Pacific countries with all their players available. Tuquiri, Caucau and Rokocoko in the Fijian backline would be awesome!

 

[eastsrule]

I think they should change the rules... to make it harder for players born in other countries to play for NZ/Aus/etc. Imagine some of the Pacific countries with all their players available. Tuquiri, Caucau and Rokocoko in the Fijian backline would be awesome!

I could not agree more.

Tje problem is the bigger nations are getting bigger and the smaller are getting smaller. We need to have something like a pacific tournamnet with Aus, NZ, Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga etc. And Tournaments with Canada, USA and a top nation is a must.

If the new law is passed it will be a huge blow to the development of smaller nations.

 

[Wests is Best]

If they change the rules to allow the top players from the 2nd tier countries to play for the worlds best countries, then we can look forward to 150+ - 0 scorlines in the next world cup.

Anybody want to buy a ticket for France 2007? No thanks.

It will be a bigger joke than the recent world cup.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

The rule change does have some merit though. Currently the situation applies that if a player from a smaller nation has an outstanding season and makes the All Blacks or Wallabies then gets dropped they are then no longer elegible to EVER represent another country. At least this way they may be elegible after a stand-down period of a year or two.
It may also help to prevent the situation where players refuse to play for a country of birth because they don't want to lose the chance of later representing NZ or Aus. Bear in mind if Caucau had taken this atitude Fiji would never had had his services at all.

 

[ibeme]

What next? Player trading between nations?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

What next? Player trading between nations?

I hope not. I'd support a two-year stand-down at least.

 

[Auckland4ever]

The rule change does have some merit though. Currently the situation applies that if a player from a smaller nation has an outstanding season and makes the All Blacks or Wallabies then gets dropped they are then no longer elegible to EVER represent another country. At least this way they may be elegible after a stand-down period of a year or two.
It may also help to prevent the situation where players refuse to play for a country of birth because they don't want to lose the chance of later representing NZ or Aus. Bear in mind if Caucau had taken this atitude Fiji would never had had his services at all.

Thats right. There are two sides to this issue.

A ton of players of pacific island descent have dual eligibility. Many are either born in NZ or have grown up here. Many, if not most, are also developed by NZ rugby.

Playing for the ABs will help set them up financially, so most chase the black jersey, but if they only have fleeting success, the islands currently have no chance of ever acquiring their services. A stand-down period would change things.

Having said that, losing Rupeni is a huge blow for Fiji & as much as I would like to see him play for NZ, I would have prefered it if he had stayed where he was.

 

[ozbash]

is matt mcçallion (sp) the fijian coach ??

 

[SpaceMonkey]

is matt mcçallion (sp) the fijian coach ??

Yep.

 

[eastsrule]

The rule change does have some merit though. Currently the situation applies that if a player from a smaller nation has an outstanding season and makes the All Blacks or Wallabies then gets dropped they are then no longer elegible to EVER represent another country. At least this way they may be elegible after a stand-down period of a year or two.
It may also help to prevent the situation where players refuse to play for a country of birth because they don't want to lose the chance of later representing NZ or Aus. Bear in mind if Caucau had taken this atitude Fiji would never had had his services at all.

Thats right. There are two sides to this issue.

A ton of players of pacific island descent have dual eligibility. Many are either born in NZ or have grown up here. Many, if not most, are also developed by NZ rugby.

Playing for the ABs will help set them up financially, so most chase the black jersey, but if they only have fleeting success, the islands currently have no chance of ever acquiring their services. A stand-down period would change things.

Having said that, losing Rupeni is a huge blow for Fiji & as much as I would like to see him play for NZ, I would have prefered it if he had stayed where he was.

If the Rupeni's, the Kefu's, the Rockcokcokcokokokoko's all played for their country of origin international football would be a lot more equal.

I support the option of players overseas being able to be selected for nations. That way Ruepni can play for the Blues, earna quid yet represent his country, which is what it is all about.

Something that should be considered to be banned is countries paying the salaries of players....

 

[ozbash]

it all comes down to $$$. rupeni and co can earn a lot more in nz than they can at home..

its not a bloody sport anymore...

 

[aqua_duck]

I think they should change the rules... to make it harder for players born in other countries to play for NZ/Aus/etc. Imagine some of the Pacific countries with all their players available. Tuquiri, Caucau and Rokocoko in the Fijian backline would be awesome!

Thats a good idea in theory but there are many problems with it, take for example Mils Muliaina, born in Samoa but moved to NZ when he was 4 years old, one may argue that whilst he was born in Samoa, Somoan rugby spent not a cent on his development, when he moved to NZ no one knew he existed, he was raised in NZ and has lived there for most of his life, he has an NZ passport, NZ driver's licence and was educated in NZ and grew up with New Zealanders. He was developed by the NZ junior system, they were the ones who paid for his coaching and junior development and they were the ones who brought him through the ranks with the NZ schoolboys and 7's team, I doubt he's ever played rugby in Samoa before. When you take all that into consideration, it seems abit unfair that NZ couldn't play him even though they developed him and were the ones who spent the bucks on him.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I think they should change the rules... to make it harder for players born in other countries to play for NZ/Aus/etc. Imagine some of the Pacific countries with all their players available. Tuquiri, Caucau and Rokocoko in the Fijian backline would be awesome!

Thats a good idea in theory but there are many problems with it, take for example Mils Muliaina, born in Samoa but moved to NZ when he was 4 years old, one may argue that whilst he was born in Samoa, Somoan rugby spent not a cent on his development, when he moved to NZ no one knew he existed, he was raised in NZ and has lived there for most of his life, he has an NZ passport, NZ driver's licence and was educated in NZ and grew up with New Zealanders. He was developed by the NZ junior system, they were the ones who paid for his coaching and junior development and they were the ones who brought him through the ranks with the NZ schoolboys and 7's team, I doubt he's ever played rugby in Samoa before. When you take all that into consideration, it seems abit unfair that NZ couldn't play him even though they developed him and were the ones who spent the bucks on him.

Or to drive the point home even further, what would a rule like that do to a guy like George Gregan? Would he not be allowed to play for Australia because he was born in Zambia, even though rugby hardly exists in Zambia? In my opinion that would harm the international game more than the current situation where having a high profile player from a country/ethnic community not normally noted for that sport can raise a sport's profile enourmously within that community. For example Hazem El Masri has done a huge amount for the profile of League in the Lebanese community irrespective of whether he ever plays for Lebanon.

 

[Wests is Best]

If Super 12 rugby meant anything to the players, we wouldn't have players wanting to swap countries, don't you think?
Just proves that domestic Rugby (including Super12) ranks a big fat ZERO to the players (and most fans for that matter)
Rugby Union is a like a rather large beautiful house, that has been built on quicksand!
I predict International rugby to make a comeback at Concord Oval within 3 years.

 

[Auckland4ever]

If Super 12 rugby meant anything to the players, we wouldn't have players wanting to swap countries, don't you think?
Just proves that domestic Rugby (including Super12) ranks a big fat ZERO to the players (and most fans for that matter)

Besides Rupeni, how many players are wanting to swap countries? Are any of those non-pacific islanders? Given the lack of financial support given to Samoa, Tonga & Fiji, its no surprise players of PI descent want to play for NZ. There are so many more opportunities open to them in going down that path. I dont see what Super 12 has got to do with anything?

Domestic rugby may not rate in Australia, but it does with NZers & and white SA. There are strong, long established rivalries in the NPC & Curry cup & fans and players DO care, as much as RL fans care about the NRL competition.

 

[bayrep]

If Super 12 rugby meant anything to the players, we wouldn't have players wanting to swap countries, don't you think?
Just proves that domestic Rugby (including Super12) ranks a big fat ZERO to the players (and most fans for that matter)
Rugby Union is a like a rather large beautiful house, that has been built on quicksand!
I predict International rugby to make a comeback at Concord Oval within 3 years.

It really shows how much you know or should I say dont know about domestic rugby. Unless the Aus team starts slipping down the international ladder I dont see rugby dieing in Aus.