for those arguing the "point of international rugby" is diminished by this: the point of international rugby was originally and continuously for this day to provide entertainment that turned a profit.
I agree with the last, but i don't think you understand my point. That profit will go down because people like myself will lose interest. Not saying i'll stop watching rugby, but i'll stick to club/franchise.
Again, for me, and i'm pretty sure i am not alone here, the idea of nations facing each other is one that comes with certain constraints. You can maximize profits within those constraints, but if you move outside of those, count me out. I understand that the concept of nationality has changed and we need to adapt, but if anyone can play for any nation as long as he and that RU want it, then the idea of nation is dead and having nations playing against each other, as representatives of that nation, is pointless.
Most of you would never notice if Jerome Kaino kitted up for the US because you never watch the US play, so pretending that you think it's a joke is about the same as someone in New York complaining about immigrants in Texas taking your job.
********. You speak of arguments and the next thing you do is come up with a strawman. You are better than that (i mean it as a compliment).
And Cruz, both our countries have a history of poaching other country's military officers, why should rugby players held to a higher standard?
Cant speak for yours. I haven't checked the law in a while, but i'm pretty sure legally in Arg they are not allowed to. Either they are intelligence officers/operatives or they got in illegally (fake name and docs).
Regarding the why, because that is what i expect from people who claim to represent their country. I see representing the country as a privilege, not a right.
Again, if this is a free-for-all and the one with biggest pockets gets the best players then count me out. I'll watch club rugby where that is already institutionalized and the risk of paying for a pig in a poke is low.
That is for the "principles" part of the argument. My other argument is of a practical nature. The more countries are allowed to import and export players, the more the rich will benefit at the expense of the poor. Yeah sure, some will mention Pacific islanders and NZ as the exception. What they won't mention is that the players who could have played for both and chose PI over NZ are, in their vast majority would never have made it to the All Blacks. In other words, yes, there are a lot of cross overs, but the pacific islanders that play for NZ are the PI's best, while the NZ that play for the PIslanders are the All Blacks scraps. Harsh but accurate.
Again, rich benefiting at the expense of the poor. I wholeheartedly believe that it is bad for the game. It further concentrates the game on a few nations. I think we all agree that's not something that will attract newcomers, quite the opposite.
Do you think there are no second-tier Argentine players that could easily make it in Uruguay's team?
Uruguayans would rather chop an arm than letting that happen. I respect that. I want to see it more often.
When i see the likes CJ Stander (one of my favourite players, ever) singing whatever the Irish sing these days before the game starts, i don't like it. I don't like it one bit.
The current system already has pacific island players refusing to play for their national team until they've accepted they won't make the wallabies or all blacks.
This is a problem, and a big one, granted. I can think of a few ways around it but something's gotta give.
