Combined Pacific Island team idea

[aqua_duck]

I heard last night that the wallbies will be taking on a combined pacific Island team next year, will be interesting to see whose in the team, wouldn't mind seeing Rupeni Caucau and Lome Fa'atau playing together though. Personally I think its a great idea to improve rugby in the region because in my opinion the pacific Islanders produce the best players in Rugby, I mean look at the all blacks, half the team are pacific islanders, even Australia with Tuqiri and Kefu, can you imagine how strong a combined pacific islaner team could be if all players from the pacific islands played, i mean in the backline you'd have howlett, rokocoko, Caucau, Muliaina, Tuqiri, Nonu, Umaga, hat would beat any backline in world rugby.

 

[t-ba]

How About; New Zealand and (To a Lesser extent) Australia stop plundering the Islands playing stocks and the IRB remunerates the english clubs that refuse to let go of their international players, so we can get a more even playing field?

It would solve alot of problems and the Islands could maintain a sperate identity and be more competitive amongst the big boys during the international schedule

 

[Marcus]

I think its a good idea. They would certainly draw a bigger crowd than if they were to tour separately.

What I would like to see is them playing games in NZ and Australia, with all profits generated going back to the 3 pacific nations. NZ did this with Fiji last year in Wellington and they got $200,000 for it. I like to see the same happen with a PW team.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

How About; New Zealand and (To a Lesser extent) Australia stop plundering the Islands playing stocks and the IRB remunerates the english clubs that refuse to let go of their international players, so we can get a more even playing field?

Fair call however I think the accusation that NZ constantly plunders the Islands playing stocks does get overstated a bit. Take a look at some of the players that NZ has supposedly "stolen". Whilst they wertre born in the Islands, most of them are educated in NZ and learned the game there, and have been NZ citizens for several years. Have a listen to Rocococko, Umaga, Nonu etc when they speak, not much trace of an Island accent there! NZ has every right to claim these players, however in the case of players who have only spent 2-3 years in NZ I think the accusation is fair.

 

[Te Kaha]

How About; New Zealand and (To a Lesser extent) Australia stop plundering the Islands playing stocks and the IRB remunerates the english clubs that refuse to let go of their international players, so we can get a more even playing field?

Fair call however I think the accusation that NZ constantly plunders the Islands playing stocks does get overstated a bit. Take a look at some of the players that NZ has supposedly "stolen". Whilst they wertre born in the Islands, most of them are educated in NZ and learned the game there, and have been NZ citizens for several years. Have a listen to Rocococko, Umaga, Nonu etc when they speak, not much trace of an Island accent there! NZ has every right to claim these players, however in the case of players who have only spent 2-3 years in NZ I think the accusation is fair.

Point of note according to his bio Jonathan "Tana" Umaga was born in Lower Hutt Hospital.

 

[CanadianSteve]

This article says it's unfair to accuse NZ of plundering the Islands:

http://rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/28/1067233171775.html

 

[aqua_duck]

This article says it's unfair to accuse NZ of plundering the Islands:

http://rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/28/1067233171775.html

I agree with that article, I mean whats the difference between what the All blacks do and what other nations do. NZ whilst they have many players of pacific islander origin never poached the players, surely they can't be accused of poaching players like Ma'a Nonu, and Tana Umaga when they were born in NZ, and players like Joe Rocokoco, Mil Muliaina, Keven Mealamu, and Jerry Collins who were barely out of their nappies when they arrived in NZ. I mean look at Australia, look at Patricio Noriega, Argentine through and through who was poached, Tiann Strauss a few years back.

 

[Auckland4ever]

Pacific Islanders have lived in NZ since the 40's. There's often a misconception that all the players of Island decent in the ABs are poached.

 

[bayrep]

In saying all that, there does seem to be a point where NZRU contracterd players have been blocked from playing for their countries. I heard an interview on Radio sport with the chairman from Hawkes Bay and Brendon telfer about a month ago, where they stated that they were going to let a player go to the world cup and play for theire Pacific island team (Tonga from mem) but they wanted Tonga union to buy out the rest of his contract if he did go. Another words the Hawkes Bay union was black mailing the player and the Tonga union in a round about way. I am not sure if the player did end up playing but for it to even get to this stage was shocking.

Can you imagine a provincial union doing this to the AB's or any of the other big five ?

 

[Parra_Eels]

we need to play a pacific islands team. i remember nz playing fiji last year and it did them good.