2
I forgot the
French Kiss v Down Under Kiss
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Is that like "If you show me your Brazilian I will show you my Australian"?
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.