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World Rugby have announced an adjustment to regulation 8.1 (c) concerning national eligibility on residency grounds.
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The World Rugby regulation had previously stated that a player could only change their national eligibility through residency after “the player has been registered exclusively with a union or rugby body in the country for sixty months immediately preceding the time of playing.”
The adjustment now means any player with a “genuine, close, credible and established link to a union” is not required to complete 60 months (five years) of unbroken residency in the relevant country.
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Players will now have to complete a 60-month ‘rugby registration’ in their adopted nation, but, crucially, will be allowed to travel during that period.
The amendment comes after the World Rugby Council meeting in October 2023, and came into force on August 1.
A World Rugby statement reads: “Following the World Rugby Council decision in October 2023, an adjustment to World Rugby Regulation 8.1 (c) governing national eligibility has been adopted across the game.
“From 1 August, 2024, any player with a genuine, close, credible and established link to a union is no longer required to complete 60 months (five years) of unbroken residency in the relevant country right up to the first time that player represents the union.
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“Under the revised approach ‘rugby registration’ over a 60-month period will need to be demonstrated via registration with a rugby body, including a national union or club.
“The amendment was approved by the Council following extensive consultation with unions and players and is aimed to address challenges that arise for unions within territories where recording entry and exit from a country is not straightforward.
“The onus will be on the union and rugby body to demonstrate the relevant proof of unbroken registration when considering an eligibility case on rugby residency.”
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World Rugby is "Corrupt" E.g. Bernard La Porte and his best mate Billy Beaumont. Both under investigation.
I think if the players can all get together and have a World Players Association, with an Independent Governing Body.
Players take the "risk"
Change the rules, make it simpler so kids can understand the game.
so just a damn free for all for NH teams raping the SH for players then....
SA will suffer. The Irish and especially the Scots is doing shopping in SA. We have such a big pool of very talented players that they will sign them and offer them big money. With how hard it has become to be a Bok, many would jump the divide in search of international honours in their future. Who should be shopping in SA is the Wallabies. They sure need it. SA produces brutes with the skills of backlines. We would definitely suffer with these rules. It's just become so much easier pilfering talent. If Wales is clever, they will snap up Cameron Hanekom before he gets a turn in the Bok squad, because if he gets his turn, that jersey is his. Currently there is so much depth in SA, so many will come shopping. Go to school derbies, and you will see what I'm talking about. There is so many scouts from different countries. Like flies. Who will hook the next big fish? The same holds true for NZ. They may lose a lot of players, especially since SR have become a wasted competition. Don't forget about the Americans. With 3031 WC going that way, they will come knocking and they have the money. They have been importing South Africans in the past 5 years or so. With Heyneke Meyer playing a huge role in that. He loves his South Africans and many young talented guns playing in the MLR. We will definitely lose a lot of players
You really don't get it do you. If you're so worried about SA players going overseas - as they have been for 'n moer of a long time - then get the professional teams here to pay a bit more money. And - thanks to Rassie - overseas players are available for the Boks anyway so the national team is fine. Nope, what is happening now is fantastic for rugby union in general and our players in particular. The great effect they have had on the game is amazing and long may it last.
Nothing you said is relevant to this article.
What will be interesting to know is that if a SA'n plays for 3 or 4 months in the MLR for instance, then returns home for say the CC or even just a day job/family, will WR still term his time in America as a 'credible' link and eventually become eligible for USA?
That is the only change. There is just a little more freedom for a player who has their professional contract overseas, to come home or go on holiday outside that country for more than a couple of months every year. It's a very good change especially when considering the overheads it required of teir 2 and 3 eruopean or oceana countries etc.
first, if RSA was so flooded with talent, they would perhaps fare better at the Junior World Cups ...... (I do see the pool, but others seem to have talent as well)
second: there are at least 30-40 players per decade who will become regular Boks - those will perhaps be rather reluctant joining the US-team or even Wales, as there will hardly be any titles to win (maybe a Six Nations once every decade) - there are a few South Africans in the Scottish or Japanese team, but frankly none of them (and I don't think even Duhan) would be named in a RWC-squad for RSA .....
I am happy for the second tier Saffers getting a chance to play test rugby
This may weaken several international teams.
Maybe SA and Argentina not so?
It won't make any change to teams. If you read the article, it is just to make admin easier.
No doubt say a player playing in Portugal or Spain (really a smaller country from how the article depicts it, but you get it as an example) crosses the boarder to France or the channel back to England and doesn't realise that had made their residency invalid. They may even have say selected a French player and then their opposition lodges a complaint because they know that player spent a season (2 or 3 months) playing domestically in their own country, or perhaps earned a joker contract in the Top 14. The sort of thing that didn't stop them from playing every year in their adopted country but immediately made them ineligible for it.
Then theres also the secondary case of a player going "ive been asked to come fill in for Toulouse as their medical joker, can I still remain eligible for my new country while going over to France?" and being told, "no, you can't take up that awesome opportunity in France", and having to turn down life changing opportunities just because of strict WR eligibility criteria.
IDK for sure, i'm not involved in that process, just putting things together.