G
gingergenius
Guest
Basically, there's quite a lot of debate in Rugby over the flexibility of nationality, sparked again with Ricki Flutey's selection for England.
Here's my 2p:
I read somewhere in the RL world cup that a New Zealand international was eligible to play for Tonga. This to me is wrong. Once you've represented someone at senior level, I think your colours are tied to the mast.
I've heard people say you commit your future at representative level; however Martin Johnson played for New Zealand at U21 level because he lived over there for a few years. Does that mean he shouldn't have been able to play for England when he returned to Leicester? IMO, no it doesn't.
Maurie Fa'asavalu played Union for Samoa, and RL for Great Britain. Vainikolo played RL for NZ and Union for England. As far as I'm concerned, these are separate sports so commitments in one don't count towards each other.
Some wag on 606 said you had to play for the country of your birth. This leaves Simon Shaw as a Kenyan (fair enough they're good at 7s), and Delon Armitage playing for Trinidad. I think I rest my case.
There's then the question of the Islanders playing for Australia and New Zealand. As far as I see it, 'poaching' is unfair, but if these guys are going over in their teens and benefitting from the academy system in their new nations then it's ok. If they're being plucked out of a Fiji 7s/ U21 team (like Frace may do with Nalaga), then it's wrong.
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I'd propose some rules of nationality:
1) You are only allowed to play for countries you have citizenship for. I understand that Shane Williams shares the same citizenship as Chris Paterson, Andrew Trimble and James Haskell. So for UK citizens they must choose their home nation on the basis of birth/ where they've grown up/ attended school/ or where their parents are from.
2) If you're picking someone like Flutey, I think there has to be some commitment from the player that they aren't just playing in order to make International level. For example, he'd have to show that he plans to live in the UK for the forseeable future; and that he isn't a mere mercenary.
3) There should never be question whether the likes of Armitage, Hartley, Ouedraogo etc. should play for their adopted countries. They're like any other immigrants, they've moved to a country permanently even if they were born elsewhere. They've made their commitment to the country.
Here's my 2p:
I read somewhere in the RL world cup that a New Zealand international was eligible to play for Tonga. This to me is wrong. Once you've represented someone at senior level, I think your colours are tied to the mast.
I've heard people say you commit your future at representative level; however Martin Johnson played for New Zealand at U21 level because he lived over there for a few years. Does that mean he shouldn't have been able to play for England when he returned to Leicester? IMO, no it doesn't.
Maurie Fa'asavalu played Union for Samoa, and RL for Great Britain. Vainikolo played RL for NZ and Union for England. As far as I'm concerned, these are separate sports so commitments in one don't count towards each other.
Some wag on 606 said you had to play for the country of your birth. This leaves Simon Shaw as a Kenyan (fair enough they're good at 7s), and Delon Armitage playing for Trinidad. I think I rest my case.
There's then the question of the Islanders playing for Australia and New Zealand. As far as I see it, 'poaching' is unfair, but if these guys are going over in their teens and benefitting from the academy system in their new nations then it's ok. If they're being plucked out of a Fiji 7s/ U21 team (like Frace may do with Nalaga), then it's wrong.
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I'd propose some rules of nationality:
1) You are only allowed to play for countries you have citizenship for. I understand that Shane Williams shares the same citizenship as Chris Paterson, Andrew Trimble and James Haskell. So for UK citizens they must choose their home nation on the basis of birth/ where they've grown up/ attended school/ or where their parents are from.
2) If you're picking someone like Flutey, I think there has to be some commitment from the player that they aren't just playing in order to make International level. For example, he'd have to show that he plans to live in the UK for the forseeable future; and that he isn't a mere mercenary.
3) There should never be question whether the likes of Armitage, Hartley, Ouedraogo etc. should play for their adopted countries. They're like any other immigrants, they've moved to a country permanently even if they were born elsewhere. They've made their commitment to the country.
