Olympian reflects on Ireland’s second-last finish at Dubai Sevens

You know, it's just I see people often making comments like "they likely can't afford to sack him".

He offered to quit. There would have been no cost to releasing him. Where you purposefully trying to make him out to be a 'bad man'?

In England and France (if I'm not mistaken), there is no chance for these clubs to host their national side.

Stick with your message. Theres nothing wrong with Ireland (or you) behaving like theyre better when you suggest it would have taken those three that long to break into the Ireland side based on how well they played with they came over.

I think you're being rather naive though. But I can't argue they would have had some exposure instead that 3 year period as I never saw them play. All I know is when they started playing for Ireland (and not surprised by what I saw btw too), they looked an immediate improvement. So I rather suspect you are wrong on both counts, and they either would indeed have played earlier if eligible (so debunking your "their needed development period" thinking), or that they would have taken just as long to become embedded in the AB framework.

PS: the timeframe were are talking about here is obviously pre Irelands dominance. So perhaps another error in judgement on your part when it comes to these sorts of statements.

Actually, I think it would be beneficial for rugby, as some coachs can't be stopped from basically selecting foreigners for the national side before they've even played a local club game. They're probably doing more harm than good.

You, again, appear unable to accept your perception was wrong (it does shrink his options). It's ok to be wrong Nick, you don't need to behave like some almighty on these forums just because we look up to your opinion.

Also, despite repeating it, it appears that you can't understand I'm representing the people who come up with these arguments, not the players.

Honestly, why are you so blind in these discussions? It smacks of someone unable to change their mind and getting defensive.

You haven't even included that second quote in your article! Thanks for the share though, as I found a link and I never knew that he would have been first school boy ever to have a contract with NZR if he had of chosen to stay.

n an extraordinary move, Tupou will walk away from New Zealand despite being offered extra money from the NZRU — the only time they have made such an offer to a schoolboy.While Tupou has fielded big-money offers from France and England, he said it was best for him and his family to live in Australia, where his older brother Criff works as a miner and will oversee his career.

Intersting also that the article also says

“They said that ‘if you’re not on a New Zealand passport and you’ve been here for four years, you can play for the team’,” Tupou said.“But I’ve been here for four years and they said I can’t play for the New Zealand A team. It’s not fair. Maybe I’m not good enough to stay here.“But that’s one of my goals this year — to play for the New Zealand A team. If I can play with them, then maybe I’ll change my mind from going to Australia. If I have the chance to play for the All Blacks, I’ll take it.”

And most glaringly, from his brother

Criff Tupou said: “What people should understand is that this in not about what Nela wants, or what I want, but what is best for our poor little family.“Playing rugby for New Zealand or Australia will always come second to our family.“My mum lives in Tonga, she would not handle the weather in New Zealand.“And I have a good job in Australia and can look after Nela.“If things don’t work out for him in rugby, what can he do in New Zealand? He is better off in Australia where I can help him get a job.“New Zealand has more rugby opportunities, but Australia has more work and opportunities, and I need to look after my little brother.“We haven’t signed a contract with anyone, we will wait and see what offers we get and make a decision soon.”

So actually my comment is looking more and more accurate.

It does make you wonder about the process. NZR don't generally get involved too much in this sort of thing, it is down to the clubs. Who where they talking to? It appears that the brother was the one making the actual decisions, and that he didn't see the same career opportunities for Taniela as NZR did, prioritizing the need for day jobs. That is were rugby comes in, I'm sure it would have been quite easy to find Criff much better work in NZ, and I highly suspect this aspect was missed in this particular situation, given the discussions were held at such a high level compared to when work can normally be found for a rugby signing. How might his career have paned out in NZ? I don't really buy the current criticisms that the Aussie game is not a good proving ground for young players. Perhaps you might have a better outlook on that now.

So you TLDR shouldn't be so aggressive when suffering from that alzheimers mate👍

Well I suppose you actually should if you're a writer lol

Also above, Nick just has a funny way of agreeing with people, by repeating what they just as if making his own points.