0
Good News Really I think anyway if it's True.
Rupert Guinness
Friday, February 16, 2007
Super 14 officials suspect the Australian Rugby Union of secretly planning to limit the number of rugby league converts in each franchise.
The ARU has openly sought high-profile league players in recent years but may now try to regulate recruitment by limiting how far the states continue that drive independently.
It is thought the ARU wants to restrict a flood of league players, especially second-tier, who would not be of interest to it, even though the states may benefit.
"We haven't heard anything official, but it is where we believe that the ARU is heading to," a prominent Super 14 official told the Herald yesterday.
Pressed, ARU chief executive Gary Flowers denied there was such a plan but said the ARU would intervene if a state's recruitment drive was aimed at league players and at the cost of opportunity for its own ranks.
"If we felt that a province had gone directly towards the wholesale recruitment of league players when there is [union] talent there, we would want to sit down and talk to them about it," he said.
Flowers did not believe Australia's Super 14 teams would pursue league players en masse, saying the work the states had put into their academy programs would more than likely have them rely on developing players.
He also believes the path to Super 14 representation will be more open to players via the school and age group representative programs and the Australian Rugby Championship.
"By and large we believe the players will come through the development system, that more than 90 per cent will," he said.
But if a province focused on league players and failed to give the ARU a satisfactory reason, Flowers did not rule out the ARU reviewing its financing of that union.
But critics argue the ARU is discriminating against league players. "It shouldn't really matter if a player is from league, AFL or soccer. If they are good enough, they are good enough," a Super 14 insider said. "That [suspected ARU policy] means league players will be treated differently."
The ARU is not forecasting a flood of top-tier league converts such as Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri, who is on the top of many headhunters' wish lists in rugby union and league.
"We believe we will only see a small number, maybe three or five. Whatever number, it will be only a minor percentage," said Flowers, who added it was the states' prerogative to headhunt who they wanted, pointing to the Force's and Reds' recruitment of Ryan Cross and Clinton Schifcofske respectively from league.
"The Force needed an experienced professional footballer and an outside-centre," he said. "And at the Reds they needed an experienced back-up for Chris Latham, and that has proven to be a good move."
The ARU should not underestimate the will of the states to pursue league players, even if they are not seen as future Wallabies.
The Herald understands the states have recently received many expressions of interest from league players, some genuine, others aimed at increasing their market value. That market is expected to become even more open within the next month, especially in a World Cup year when many careers are on the cusp.
It is understood the ARU has booked contract reviews for up to 30 players during the next month. The Waratahs have up to 12 players whose contracts are up for renewal.
This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ar...405376308.html
Reply With Quote
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
