Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

blm
Lv 7
blm asked in SportsRugby · 9 years ago

So what is a (North) American international to do?

I was watching the Saints-Wasps game, when the commentator noted that Samu Manoa, the Saint's outstanding American second rower only had one international cap. Later it came out that there was a reason for this -- one of the conditions on his initial contract with Northamption was a requirement that he make himself unavailable to the American squad for international matches. Can you imagine the fuss if the Saints had required similar terms from an English international? And it isn't just Manoa -- we here stories here in Canada of similar conditions being imposed on our own international who play in Europe.

Now -- presumably -- one of the IRBs priorities is to grow the game in Canada and the United States. So should the IRB be cracking down on this type of arrangement? Can it crack down or are its' hands tied by the more powerful national unions? And what are we here in North America to make of this situation?

2 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The way the Northern hemisphere runs its club system is sickening. They exert far too much control over players from second tier or emerging rugby nations.

    The same argument you bring is raised by Pacific Island teams as their players either get offered massive incentives or being sacked if they turn out for national teams.

    The NZRU is also trying to allow players of tier two countries who have represented a tier one country the right to return to their indigenous country after a stand down period. This continually gets turned down by the Northern countries as they could see Samoan, Tongan or Fijian teams with ex AB's or Aussies dominating them in a WC. Far easier to be short sighted and insular than be progressive and grow the game.

    For the shame ......

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    they can refuse to sign on. not in their best interest, of course. until rugby advances its state of play in north america, there is not much for them to do.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.