Here's when we will really notice rugby's Regulation 8 Effect – it's sooner than you might think
Player eligibility changes will hit long before the December 31, 2020, date mentioned in the press, writes James Harrington.
December 31, 2020. It's a Thursday. And, on May 10, 2017 – last Wednesday – it was etched in rugby stone.
On this particular distant Thursday, World Rugby's Regulation 8 changes – upping the qualifying residency period from 36 months to 60 months. Or from three years to five years, if you want to put it that way.
It has prompted confusion, that otherwise innocent and unassuming date that was unanimously agreed at a meeting in Kyoto, Japan, shortly before the draw for the 2019 World Cup.
Some have wondered why the law could not come into force earlier. After all, there are plenty of Thursdays – and Wednesdays, Sundays, Fridays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Mondays – between now and then.
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The truth is, we will feel the Regulation 8 Effect much sooner than that, World Rugby has confirmed to Rugby Pass. End-of-the-year sooner, in fact.
December 31, 2020, is not an arbitrary future Thursday that the old farts in suits and Agustin Pichot plucked out of the ether. It's about as near to now as it's reasonably possible to get.
That date is the splash where World Rugby's player eligibility stone hits the water.
The ripples that stone causes extend back in time - to December 31, 2017. A Sunday. That's the absolute, definitive, final date at which it is possible for players to complete three years of residency before the 2020 change takes effect.
After this date, qualification periods cross the 2020 threshold. So, players who move from one country to another from 2018 onwards must complete five years' residency before they can play for the national side of their adopted home.
The delay is to allow players already in the system, such as Munster's New Zealand-born hooker Rhys Marshall, and others who may have already agreed to enter the system later this year, to complete their qualifying period under existing regulations.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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