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Former Samoan international calls for eligibility law change

Former Samoan international and Pacific Rugby Players Welfare board member Dan Leo is calling for a change to World Rugby’s eligibility law.

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Leo says that World Rugby’s current law that lets players represent just one nation “is behind the times”, and believes a change would “almost certainly have an immediate impact, both on the quality and growth of our sport.”

Writing for TheRugbyPaper, Leo argues that former test players should be able to represent developing nations if they are surplus to requirements later in their career.

“With the mass migration of Pacific Islanders to places like New Zealand, Australia, and now Japan and Europe, the one-nation-for-life rule that World Rugby currently operates by, is behind the times. It hinders poorer nations, prejudices people from lower socio-economic back- grounds and only serves the interests of those rugby nations that are already established,” Leo wrote.

“Surely this directly contrasts with the values of the game that we wave about so proudly?”

Leo identified a possible solution. He argues that allowing players to continue their international careers with another nation after a stand-down period could remedy the issue.

“If Bundee Aki can qualify through residency for Ireland in three years, then surely the same should exist the other way around? His last cap coming for New Zealand in 2015, shouldn’t [Charles] Piutau now be be able to play for Tonga after a three-year stand down?”

Leo also detailed options of a shorter or longer stand-down, and argued that movement should only happen from a Tier 1 nation down to a Tier 2/3 nation.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'These blokes have done the jersey proud, with their buy-in and with their relish.'

Jesus PR that’s another great conclusion. I can definitely see it as blocker to bringing through new talent in time for the WC. NZ underwent a lot of change in 2018 following the Lions tour, in part thanks to key injuries. Despite the revenue spending Aaron Cruden (getting frail even at his young age then) and Lima Sopoaga (along with Julien Savea), 2 of the 3 1st5s in the Lions squad, both left before the 2019 WC for example. But when we apply your logic, their delayed departure prevented Richie Mounga and Damien McKenzie (the 15 who got injured and threw a spanner in the works) from brought through in what would possible now be considered the preferred WC preparation. Ditto on the win with a scramble of constant change their all the way through to their WC 3rd/4th playoff.


Theres certainly cause to account for certain circumstances eventuating being influenced by a Lions tour. But as both nations here select from domestic players only, theres also cause to put similar emphasis on the contracting model in general, as sometimes you can hold on too long. Ireland has a similar model, talking to another irishman here he suggests it has lead to selecting based on contracts, money being spent on a player centrally contracted. So I would not so much worry about fatigue (in part because some incomplete analysis I had done on all.rugby shows the Irish contingent have low minutes this year) but continuing to select underperforming and aging players. When in a pure context of building for a WC, one would normally want to move on an develop the future.

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