What are the new import/quota rules ?

[fourplay]

I heard there are strict new rules ... and 20% of the squad must come from junior development.

What is the foreign player quota going to be ? They will still have unlimited Islanders with the Kolpak rule though correct?

 

[deluded pom?]

Unlimited Islanders and unlimited players with an EEC country passport. The only way round this would be for clubs to impose their own unwritten limits. This would NEVER happen and wouldn't stand up in a courtroom anyway.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Lets hope the Poms start filling their teams with locals soon, thats how the game will expand, and thats the only way they'll ever beat Australia.

Maybe instead of banning everyone, maybe they should only ban non Euorpeans, have 2-3 ozzie, NZ, Pac Islanders, but they can grab as many Europeans as they want?

This will help countries like France, Russia, Serbia and the rest.

 

[deluded pom?]

Lets hope the Poms start filling their teams with locals soon, thats how the game will expand, and thats the only way they'll ever beat Australia.

Maybe instead of banning everyone, maybe they should only ban non Euorpeans, have 2-3 ozzie, NZ, Pac Islanders, but they can grab as many Europeans as they want?

This will help countries like France, Russia, Serbia and the rest.

Not really, there would just be a queue of Aussies with EEC passports trying to get top dollar for their services. What i'd do is if Kiwis or Aussies declare themselves as Pacific Islanders or European passport holders then fine. But they could then only play for the nation that they have declared an affinity with. So for example if a New Zealander says he's got Samoan roots to dodge the quota and get in via the Kolpak rule then he can only play for Samoa and has taken himself out of the running to become a Kiwi. The same goes for for an Aussie who turns out to have a European passport. This not only makes players think twice before committing their allegiances but any one that does declare for a minor nation will be strengthening that nation.

 

[Evil Homer]

Or we could just say there must be at least 14 GB-eligible players in the 17 each week.

 

[fourplay]

Or we could just say there must be at least 14 GB-eligible players in the 17 each week.

That woudn't stand legally though right ?

 

[deluded pom?]

That woudn't stand legally though right ?

I can't imagine for one minute the likes of Lindsay playing by those rules. He'd get his big stick out and threaten the RFL with legal action if the Pie Eaters struggle as they did last season. As I said I think we have to put the ball in the players court and let them decide who they want to play for internationally. This would be a kind of self policing by the players. Leave it to the clubs and the clubs will only do what's best for the clubs.

 

[jed]

The same goes for for an Aussie who turns out to have a European passport. This not only makes players think twice before committing their allegiances but any one that does declare for a minor nation will be strengthening that nation.

With all due respect, the ARL only selects players for Australia that are signed with NRL clubs - as soon as they declare they're off to SL or RU, they're instantly cut. Smith played a few years back while in SL (with uproar back here), and Lyon was only considered for Tri-Nations once he signed with Manly. The Australian public wouldn't stand for non-NRL players being used.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Yeah making Aussies unable to play for Australia wouldn't be a deterrent because they can't play for Australia once they go to England anyway. It might work with the Kolpacs though.

This legal business is a bit of a myth I reckon. What's stopping the RFL from imposing rules like minimum British qualified players in the starting 17? Clubs can sign as many overseas players on EEC passports as they like but they can't pick them all each week. Plus the threat of legal action is just that, a threat. It would take a very stupid ceo to take on the league in court on this issue. It'd cost a heap, the benefits would be minimal and they'd be rightly bagged by the entire rugby league community. I also can't see clubs kicking up a stink with the RFL with franchises being handed out and taken away at the whim of the RFL big wigs.

 

[deluded pom?]

I was talking about European Aussies/Pacific Islanders who want to play in the ESL not the NRL. This thread is about quota limits in the ESL isn't it? Believe me ECT if Lindsay thought he'd win in court he'd be there tomorrow. He'd have Whelan's millions to back him up. Also do you really think Lindsay cares what the rest of the RL community think of him as long as Wigan are winning?