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Former All Black Isaac Ross returns to Mitre 10 Cup following Top League axing

By Alex McLeod
(Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks lock Isaac Ross has returned to New Zealand to sign with the Tasman Mako after being left without a club in Japan over an obscure Top League rule.

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Ross, who played eight tests for the All Blacks in 2009, was at the centre of a recent controversy in the Top League whereby he he found himself without a club, after of nine years of service in Japan, due to his foreign status.

Despite having held a Japanese passport since 2017, the 35-year-old was still deemed a foreigner under a Top League law introduced in 2016 that restricts internationally-capped players from overseas who have obtained Japanese citizenship from being recognised as a local player.

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Ian Foster knows who will play at first-five for the All Blacks this weekend

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Ian Foster knows who will play at first-five for the All Blacks this weekend

With Top League squads limited to fielding two internationally-capped foreign players at any time, Ross had his playing time significantly reduced this year after the NTT Communications Shining Arcs signed Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx and Wallabies playmaker Christian Lealiifano.

He was subsequently deemed surplus to requirements, and was released from his contract with the club following the cancellation of the 2020 Top League due to COVID-19.

“We’ve committed to Japan and we’ve decided to leave our home countries and make a life over here,” Ross told RugbyPass in September.

“They have continued to loosen other foreign player regulations while staying firm on ours despite the fact it no longer makes sense and infringes on our rights as Japanese.

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“We gave up our citizenship of our own countries to become Japanese, and that’s probably the biggest thing for us.”

Labelling the rule as “discriminatory”, Ross, alongside former New Zealand and Australian sevens representatives Colin Bourke and Brackin Karauria-Henry, sought a change in ruling from the Top League to allow them to stay in Japan.

However, the Japan Rugby Football Union confirmed just under a fortnight ago that no change would be made to the law for the upcoming season.

That has led Ross to return to New Zealand, where he is set to play professional rugby for the first time since 2011.

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB HOUSE. With a number of players unavailable due to All Black commitments and injuries, Isaac Ross,…

Posted by Tasman Mako on Monday, 5 October 2020

With a slew of players unavailable due to injury and All Blacks commitments, Ross has joined reigning Mitre 10 Cup champions Tasman for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.

His addition to the squad comes after star Highlanders lock Pari Pari Parkinson and newly-announced All Blacks second rower Quinten Strange both succumbed to season-ending injuries.

Additionally, local back-up options Antonio Shalfoon and Max Hicks also remain under injury clouds, paving the way for a homecoming for Ross after nine years away.

After accruing 53 appearances for Canterbury between 2006 and 2010, the former Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs lock could make his Mako debut as soon as this Sunday, when Tasman host Bay of Plenty in Nelson.

Despite losing 40-24 to North Harbour last weekend – their first loss in almost two years – Tasman remain at the top of the Premiership standings with just three points separating them from fifth-placed Canterbury.

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Trevor 18 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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