1
Former Samoan international calls for eligibility law change
By Online Editors
Former Samoan international and Pacific Rugby Players Welfare board member Dan Leo is calling for a change to World Rugby's eligibility law.
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.
In other news:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
RFU statement: Maro Itoje cited for yellow-carded tackle
3
Ox Nche: 'The best feeling is squeezing a prop so hard he passes out'
4
Saracens statement: The outcome of Billy Vunipola investigation
5
Latest Comments
Look, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
Go to comments