Kiwi trio named in enlarged French rugby squad

[shasta]

We speak English at least!

Vorry true. Bert we hove the merst ertrageous occents. Good moaning!

[Alison]

Bell Tower v Eiffel Tower
Hay Street Mall V Champs Elysees
The Swan v The Rhine

Yep I get the picture

I take Perth over Paris any day! Honest!

[The InnFORCEr]

I forgot the

French Kiss v Down Under Kiss

[travelling_gerry]

Is that like "If you show me your Brazilian I will show you my Australian"?

[AndyS]

Back on point, it would seem the IRB has pretty definitively dealt with the loophole. Latest release from the Regulations Committee contains the following clarification:

"Uniquely for the Rio Olympics the stand down period is 18 month. Ordinarily the stand down period is 3 years. Notwithstanding the reduced period for Rio in 2016 does the Regulations Committee understand the position to be that the stand down period remains the same for all non-Olympic participation, consistent with Reg.8.2?"
The stand down period for the Rio Olympic Games is at least 18 months (Reg. 8.7.2(a)). The stand down period of at least 3 years (Reg.8.7.2) applies to all other forms of the Game. The amendments to Regulation 8 to introduce the Olympic eligibility provisions, compatible with the Olympic Charter are specific to the Olympic Events. Notwithstanding that a Player may comply with Regulation 8.6 and change representative Union for Olympic purposes, s/he will be unable to represent that Olympic Event qualified Union in any other form of the Game until after the 3 year stand down period (minimum) has been observed.
For completeness, no Player who is captured for a new Union under the Olympic eligibility provisions is permitted to play for their former Union in any form of the Game pending compliance with all the relevant stand-down periods contained in Regulation 8.