Aussie Player Exodus
- Thread starter swingpass
- Start date
Upthemaroon!
Frank Nicholson (4)
The hope is justified IMO. I think RA can be a bit bolder and let those guys get picked up by french clubs with (arguably) better setups, but keep on selecting them for national rep sides. As long as they don't choose League, there is hope haha.
French clubs mostly want JIFF status, they don't really care that much about getting them capped as their player pool is so big (and reaches all the way to French Caledonia anyway). But if we (NZR and RA) dont select foreign based players, the ones that 'get away' (like Meafou, who didn't get a look when he was still playing Hospital Cup) and are tearing up the Top14 are easy pickings for France.
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
French Caledonia has been a real asset for France. Wonder if they should start tapping into French Guyana.
Hopefully our agent at the top, Brett Robinson, can put some pressure on them too. It would be worth it just for the the Tier2 bloke on Twitter's meltdown.
I'm not sure how we do this when they're playing on the other side of the world.
Upthemaroon!
Frank Nicholson (4)
Worldwide selections for the World Cups u20 and only aus based selections for the rugby championship u20, or something similar. Send them a bit of kit every now and then. Not that difficult I think
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
I wouldn't be against that but I feel sorry for the kid who then gets a french billionaire sending him threats about being cut if he takes it. Some of these young blokes are taking on big financial burdens and these Clubs know it.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
I would have thought at espoirs level they'd be happy enough, presuming it doesn't impact JIFF. That would presumably go extra if it returned to being most frequently European based.
Upthemaroon!
Frank Nicholson (4)
Especially in the Espoirs (and probably even more in lower age groups), the owners aren't that fussed when it's about rep footy selection. French clubs need to have a youth setup anyway, so getting players with injury isn't a problem. It will still count towards their JIFF. Different story for the senior squad ofcourse. Getting paid half a million dollars a year on average gives different responsibilities.
Even if the player is incredibly good, is it really going to be an advantageous move to try and bring a player in that close to the tournament?
It's not like the preparation time is long. The team will be arriving for the tournament a few days before their first match.
Upthemaroon!
Frank Nicholson (4)
Good question, are the u20 to win or are the u20 to let the best blokes grow and experience rep footy and emotionally bind them to the green and gold?
Which is more of the trigger word for you, Dismal or Pillock?
It's all of the above.
We should be trying our best to win but likewise we will prioritize a player playing Super Rugby over going to the under 20 RWC.
Like with the Wallabies, picking overseas based players should be on the basis that they are the best option available and will improve the team. For the under 20 RWC I'm not sure the timing of the whole thing makes that at all possible.
I certainly wouldn't be devaluing the team to pick a French based player who then has no preparation with the squad on the basis that we want to let them know that RA hasn't forgotten about them.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
What about the bloke left at home now getting his manager to call every NRL club?
Dctarget
David Wilson (68)
In theory he's not as talented as bloke 1, so less of a loss. Shit scenario is we lose bloke 1 & bloke 2.
Yeah agree with this actually. There is not much RA can do about the French frustratingly.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Angus Chrichton played SG Ball....
Those are the risks when you sign with French clubs. If the owners are threatening their academy players, it would only drive them back to Aus faster.
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
He did but he wasn't put into Scots by Souths. He was enrolled and sent to Scots as a boarder by his family and his Dad was an old boy as well.
Plenty have played bits of League. A lot of the Bears and Roosters squads at that level are littered with cross overs from Gordon, Easts, Randwick in the Rugby reps. Currently Waverley have Owen Finegans boy who is a bit like Angus that he is excelling in both but enrolled at the place his Dad went.
