121 replies to this topic

[deluded pom?]

http://www.stuff.co....s-a-possibility

"The news comes as British boss Richard Lewis, in an email leaked by an internet blogger, said eligibility rules were "totally wrong" but New Zealand and Australia "filibustered" any changes because the present lax rules suited them."

Edited by deluded pom?, 12 September 2010 - 12:39 PM.

[ParisSurtout]

http://www.stuff.co....s-a-possibility

"The news comes as British boss Richard Lewis, in an email leaked by an internet blogger, said eligibility rules were "totally wrong" but New Zealand and Australia "filibustered" any changes because the present lax rules suited them."

The World Cup is an occasion when everyone not in a major sporting nation's squad is encouraged to find another playing nation to help them along. So the adjustment after the WC seems reasonable.

Fien's "grannygate" was a different case, one involving presentation of false information about his grandparents.

Incidentally, you did not spell "Lewis" correctly in the title. "Leiwis" is either Dutch or Belgian. Only yanto will be pleased.

You can fix it by editing on "Full Edit."

Edited by ParisSurtout, 12 September 2010 - 09:00 AM.

[shrek]

Has anyone read the blog? Is it worth a read?

[AndyCapp]

New Zealand lost the points for their win in that seasons 4 Nations from memory because of Fiens inclusion.

[AndyCapp]

http://www.stuff.co....s-a-possibility

"The news comes as British boss Richard Lewis, in an email leaked by an internet blogger, said eligibility rules were "totally wrong" but New Zealand and Australia "filibustered" any changes because the present lax rules suited them."

Australia provides dozens of players to other countries in World Cups and 4 Nations.
At least half a dozen players selected for NZ squad this year are Australian born and raised
The 2008 World Cup had about 50 players born and raised in Australia representing other Nations.
Its nothing new.
How many Aussies play in England with Greek, Irish, Maltese or Italian passports? to get around the regulations.

[joe elliot]

can we not convince lee briers to turn out for england this yr then if he wants to return to wales no one will bat an eye lid.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Australia provides dozens of players to other countries in World Cups and 4 Nations.
At least half a dozen players selected for NZ squad this year are Australian born and raised
The 2008 World Cup had about 50 players born and raised in Australia representing other Nations.
Its nothing new.
How many Aussies play in England with Greek, Irish, Maltese or Italian passports? to get around the regulations.

I have no problems with aussies (or any nationality) playing for other countries as long as the qualify (residency, parents, grand parents), I do have issues (like Lewis) with players changing nations. Pick a nation and stick to it.

[deluded pom?]

I have no problems with aussies (or any nationality) playing for other countries as long as the qualify (residency, parents, grand parents), I do have issues (like Lewis) with players changing nations. Pick a nation and stick to it.

This is the issue Mr Lewis and others have. Mr Capp has either misread the link or is going off topic.

[deluded pom?]

"Tony Williams and Warriors backrow Ukuma Ta'ai - just 12 months after both played for Tonga against the Kiwis."


"NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said if the selectors were "desperate" to include Ta'ai and Williams in their final 23-man squad, a special application would be discussed. But he warned: "We will not have another Grannygate. If they are not eligible, they will not be selected. What we are doing now is making sure they meet the criteria. If they do, we would apply to the RLIF."

Read the top statement Mr Doyle. they DO NOT meet the criteria. Unless of course the NZRL's friends in the RLIF want it otherwise.

[deluded pom?]

The World Cup is an occasion when everyone not in a major sporting nation's squad is encouraged to find another playing nation to help them along. So the adjustment after the WC seems reasonable.

No it is not reasonable. This is international sport not a playground kick about.

Incidentally, you did not spell "Lewis" correctly in the title. "Leiwis" is either Dutch or Belgian. Only yanto will be pleased.

You can fix it by editing on "Full Edit."

Merci beaucoup monsieur.

Edited by deluded pom?, 12 September 2010 - 01:06 PM.

[roughyedspud]

heres part of the lewis "eligibilty-gate" email

the international eligibility rules are totally wrong. I and the whole of the RFL have tried on numerous occasions to get the rules changed at international board level. We have failed because Australia (in particular) and New Zealand have an advantage by keeping the rules as they are, so changes are constantly filibustered out. It is also fair to say that the Pacific Island nations are divided over their view of the rules.

[RP London]

"Tony Williams and Warriors backrow Ukuma Ta'ai - just 12 months after both played for Tonga against the Kiwis."


"NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said if the selectors were "desperate" to include Ta'ai and Williams in their final 23-man squad, a special application would be discussed. But he warned: "We will not have another Grannygate. If they are not eligible, they will not be selected. What we are doing now is making sure they meet the criteria. If they do, we would apply to the RLIF."

Read the top statement Mr Doyle. they DO NOT meet the criteria. Unless of course the NZRL's friends in the RLIF want it otherwise.

i think what they mean is that if they qualify to play on all front bar the bit in red... and that they would apply to the RLIF for the dispensation on the above which they are then allowed to do but that they wouldnt do that unless they were sure that that was the only think stopping them playing..

but i agree play for one nation and stick to it and stop the pratting about switching nations every 2 years.. last world cup i thought the description they gave to Nigel Vagana in one of hte matches of "New Zealand's top international try scorer" when he was playing for Samoa was an embarrasment that should not be repeated.. international sport should not allow that IMO..

Let Heighington play for England, let Fa'asavalu etc but only becuase they qualify and they have not played for another nation, Manu should be no where near and nor should Brough and they should not have been in the plans (and i put bridge and harrison in that as well!) though whats good for the goose etc.

[deluded pom?]

Australia ride roughshod over international credibility.

http://www.nrl.com/n...os/default.aspx

"Tony's allegiances are with Tonga and Australia," Williams' manager Issac Moses told AAP on Tuesday.

Moses said Williams, who was born in western Sydney and whose parents are both from Tonga, would be available for Australian selection for the Four Nations, but if overlooked, would represent for Tonga against Samoa."


A fecking joke. Feck the Kangaroos and the Kiwis. I won't be watching them play again any time soon even if it means not seeing the 2013 WC final.

[Big Picture]

Australia ride roughshod over international credibility.

http://www.nrl.com/n...os/default.aspx

"Tony's allegiances are with Tonga and Australia," Williams' manager Issac Moses told AAP on Tuesday.

Moses said Williams, who was born in western Sydney and whose parents are both from Tonga, would be available for Australian selection for the Four Nations, but if overlooked, would represent for Tonga against Samoa."

A fecking joke. Feck the Kangaroos and the Kiwis. I won't be watching them play again any time soon even if it means not seeing the 2013 WC final.

It's understandable that players born in Australia want to play for the Kangaroos and see playing for a Pacific island nation based on heritage as a fallback plan. RL needs either a way to get them to stick with their heritage country (realistically not likely to happen) or more countries able to compete with only a few heritage players.

[MrPosh]

It's understandable that players born in Australia want to play for the Kangaroos and see playing for a Pacific island nation based on heritage as a fallback plan. RL needs either a way to get them to stick with their heritage country (realistically not likely to happen) or more countries able to compete with only a few heritage players.

Heritage players should be able to play for either, but not both.

[EastLondonMike]

the rule should be pick a country to represent (that you qualify for) and stick to it, but in reality thats not gonna happen. so, if you qualify for more than one country (NZ and samoa for instance) and you play for one nation, but then see more oppotunities playing for the other, there should be a cool off period of 3 years before you can switch allegiance. but once that switch has been made you render yourself inelligible to represent any other country.

[Southern Tiger]

Should be like Origin, the first amateur club you play for determins who you can represent - simple final no arguments or work arounds.

[no13benny]

Should be like Origin, the first amateur club you play for determins who you can represent - simple final no arguments or work arounds.

And thus brings about the death of rugby league.

As most players will have played amateur in Australia or England, and the rest will still be playing amateur in the other countries, the gap would be massive.

[Southern Tiger]

Actually it creates a much more level playing field below the top three who none have a chance of beating anyway under the present system - death of Rugby League lol I ask you

[RP London]

Actually it creates a much more level playing field below the top three who none have a chance of beating anyway under the present system - death of Rugby League lol I ask you

erm.... how about all the people from say Wales, Scotland and Ireland who turn to RL at Uni and maybe represent their first club in England so rendering them inelligable for the country they were born and raised in and only eligable for the country they dispise? (same with the south seas islanders who play in NZ for the first time)... not to mention those from say poland who started playing when they arrived in London (i use this as an example as i know of one or two who did) or the south africans who did the same.. etc etc etc etc etc

maybe not the death of RL but it aint going to expand any!


for mine i have no issue with people saying i am austrlian and tongan, i am avialble for the kangaroos but if i am not picked will play for tonga.. that is their right and i dont see this as an issue. but once they have played for one then that is it.. full stop.. end of story