Force granted foreign recruit concession

[travelling_gerry]

Rebels, Force granted foreign recruit concession
BY:BRET HARRIS From: The Australian June 08, 2013 12:00AM


THE ARU has granted Super Rugby expansion franchises Melbourne Rebels and Western Force a concession to recruit seven foreign players to help them to compete with the traditional powers in NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

The Brumbies, NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds are allowed to recruit two foreign players, one marquee and one developmental.

The Rebels and the Force will be able to recruit a marquee import as well as six foreign development players, who will eventually become eligible to play for the Wallabies.

When the Force entered Super Rugby in 2006 it was not given any recruitment concessions by the ARU, but was granted an extra foreign development player last year.

The Rebels were allowed 10 foreign players when they joined the competition in 2011, but this number was to reduce over a certain period to come into line with the other franchises.

The new recruitment concession is part of ARU chief executive Bill Pulver's aim to create "unique solutions" for Australia's five Super Rugby teams.


"This has been done in consultation with all five Super Rugby franchises," Pulver said.

"It's an opportunity to provide unique assistance to the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels.

"There is some inherent advantage enjoyed by NSW, Queensland and to a lesser extent the Brumbies, which are the birthplaces of most of Australia's rugby talent.

"This is part of our approach to share the talent around the country. I'd love to see our teams come first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the competition."

Pulver was looking to present a number of other initiatives, including the establishment of a Super Rugby development competition, to the ARU board in August.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226659621028

[SinBin]

Kudos Pulver - looks like he's got some balls after all. A positive initiative as long as local talent get opportunities via the development comp.

[benny]

David Smith id be shopping for. and a blast from the past, why not go for big Fijian (Eligible for Wallabies) in Ratu Nasiganiyavi - Perth Spirit winger ??

[GIGS20]

Dave smith is a marquee isn't he?

[oxleymoron]

Question is - when will this come into effect, as the previous rules for the Rabble enabled them to drop 2 international spots per year. They currently have a maximum of 6 for this year and would probably whinge about losing their concessions for the new system.
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[GIGS20]

Question is - when will this come into effect, as the previous rules for the Rabble enabled them to drop 2 international spots per year. They currently have a maximum of 6 for this year and would probably whinge about losing their concessions for the new system.
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If Pulver really has any stones he'd tell them to look at the results from this year and shut up. I would allow them the concession that any contract currently written can be honored for the player's sake. They have had a golden ride for far too long.

[jono]

i'd have preferred 2 marquee players who we could keep for 3 years. that way we could put them on a 2+1 deal and see how they went. some of the older internationals might consider that for retirement when they can no longer demand top dollar. and we use them for their experience and mentoring capabilities.

but beggars cant be choosers. we'll take whatever we can get.
ox, do you think the rebels would have to lose some of their players now to get development ones? because i can see them ending up in court with that approach really fast.
or will the existing rules stay for them. but as they lose a marquee they can get a development player? that seems logical to me; and it falls in line with Pulver's quote about "unique" solutions.
because to me that says the concessions being granted are not the same for the force and the rebels.


who else is eligible for the wallabies off the tops of everyone's heads?

[James]

I worry a little bit that maybe those 7 development players will take the spots of locals. Would the Force bring back a guy like Cruze Ah-Nau if they could just go and get a development prop from elsewhere? Hmmm.

It will be interesting to see where the Force look for new players. It would be great if they go a bit further afield than NZ or RSA and get a bit more of a multicultural feel to the Force.

[AndyS]

Way for the ARU to completely miss the point!!! We don't need OS players to make up for a lack of developing players, we need a couple of extra marquees to counter the massive imbalance in payrolls that they aren't willing to look at. It would probably help if they looked at what happened to the development money for local players as well...

[Cowboy]

I'm all for scouring Lichtenstein, Bratislava and Uzbekistan for talent

[.X.]

How about Georgia for Props and Argentina for inside/outside backs?

[brokendown gunfighter]

I'm all for scouring Lichtenstein, Bratislava and Uzbekistan for talent

Estonia has 4 club sides,well worth a look there

[Cowboy]

From what I remember Estonia and Lithuania made up most of the USSR basketball team. Could be a good source for locks.

[Cowboy]

How about Georgia for Props and Argentina for inside/outside backs?

Now that just makes far too much sense, and since everyone else is going to be looking there as well I think we should ignore such common sense.

[.X.]

Now that just makes far too much sense, and since everyone else is going to be looking there as well I think we should ignore such common sense.

Sorry Cowboy