Renewed call for eligibility upheaval amid 2025 Lions tour plans
Fresh calls for an upheaval of World Rugby’s eligibility laws have been made following plans for Pacific Island involvement in the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told the Daily Mail last week that he is eager for Fiji and Tonga to be included in the next Lions tour Down Under.
“People are already excited about it. The Lions is the high point in the calendar but it’s the fans that complete it. We want it to be full blown, with as many of them over here as possible,” McLennan said.
“We want to anchor it back into what a traditional Lions tour looks like for the fans and the players. We want to deliver competitive games against our teams and we’d also like to bring in countries like Fiji and Tonga.
“We want to boost the marketability of the tour and that’s what a lot of people would love to see.”
Manu Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua has since told RugbyPass that he is keen for his side get involved in the tour, even though McLennan only name-checked their Pacific Island neighbours.
“It would be awesome to have to Lions play in Samoa and you could make the tour to Australia six tests not just three against the Wallabies,” Mapusua said.
“I think that could be of real interest to the Lions because it would give them high quality matches before the test series and they would be battled hardened.
“One of the luxuries that the Lions have over other international teams is that time together and the more test matches you play the tighter you become and playing Samoa, Tonga and Fiji would be ideal.
“It is encouraging that we are being mentioned in these kind of plans but I would be more encouraged if we were having conversations with other unions rather than just mentions when ideas are put forward.
“As the Pacific Islands rugby nations we get mentioned quite a bit but it still remains to be seen if that leads to us actually being included.
“We want those conversations to become meaningful for the future of our nations and I would be a massive supporter of making the Lions tour idea work.”
A few key moments in the Wallabies’ loss to the All Blacks highlight the major difference between the two sides – and it’s something that could be easily fixed, if the Wallabies were willing. #AllBlacks #Wallabies #NZLvAUS
Analysis from @BenSmithRugby ? https://t.co/T8m34q4E68
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) August 18, 2021
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Maori All Blacks and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said fixtures between the Lions and Fiji, Samoa and Tonga would be “great” for the all the involved parties.
However, the 29-year-old, who faced the Lions while playing for the Crusaders during their 2017 tour of New Zealand, said the Pasifika nations should have the services of their best players for “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
“I think it’s great. I think to get an opportunity to play against a team like that, it’s only going to add to those nations,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I guess the learnings from the series that just went, you want the best players to be available for that.
“We’ve talked around the laws around possibly the tier two nations getting the opportunities to get their big players back and play.
“The likes of [Charles] Piutau, [Steven] Luatua, [Charlie] Faumuina, those kind of players that aren’t getting the opportunity to play in that kind of scene because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do that.
“So, I think [they should be available for selection] to add depth to those nations so they’re competitive and a good representation of Pacific Island rugby.”
Hall’s comments come after World Rugby’s eligibility rules were at the forefront of media spotlight last month when the All Blacks played tests against Tonga and Fiji.
As it stands, players who have been capped by one nation are ineligible to play for another country they would otherwise be qualified to play for.
The only way test-capped players can switch international allegiances is if they undergo a three-year stand down period and play sevens for their second nation at the Olympics or in an Olympic qualification tournament.
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall has backed the plan put forward by Sonny Bill Williams to help revitalise the Wallabies and rugby union in Australia. #Wallabies #GiteauLaw https://t.co/03G1Di4g6l
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 18, 2021
Former All Blacks Sevens star Tim Nanai-Williams, ex-All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa and former Wallabies loose forward Lopeti Timani are among a handful of players who have utilised this loophole to become eligible for Samoa and Tonga.
However, there remains a large number of players who have played test rugby for tier one nations but haven’t played internationally for at least three years and would be eligible to play for Pacific Island nations if they went down the sevens pathway.
That has proven to be tricky for professional players, though, and ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu called for more leniency from World Rugby in that respect after Tonga were trounced 102-0 by the All Blacks at Mt Smart Stadium last month.
“The biggest quick fix would probably just be to get access to our better players,” Kefu, who is recovering after receiving stab wounds during a home invasion on Monday, said after that test.
“It’d help a lot. There’s a few players there who are ready to be capped, it’s just all about the timing.
“I certainly believe there should be a stand down period. My opinion is that extra hoop that they have to jump through, in terms of playing sevens, is probably just a layer of complication that we don’t need.
“I’m just happy with a three or four-year stand down. It’d suit us a lot. If that’s possible, our team transforms.”
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to comments