The Roar » rugbyfuture

IRB must help smaller nations keep players

rugbyfuture — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:07:45 +0000

The developing nations, in any sport, are the greatest hope for expansion, survival and worldwide popularity.

With the advent of professionalism, there lies one great problem in developing nations, in that players who are often some of the best in the world, at the forefront of the development, are stolen by those developed sporting nations.

It’s time the IRB put a stop to this.

There is a big opinion currently in South Africa over the standing of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, who is by birth and most legalities, Zimbabwean. There is a protectionist political party calling for his deportation and exile from SARU representation, there have been delayed passport issues restricting him from playing with the Boks. This of course is another story, but it highlights the fact that players, often at the forefront of their countries rugby development, go to other countries because of varying reasons not in the best interest of freedom or politics, but for money.

The Wallabies, New Zealand, South Africa are all guilty and it certainly isn’t isolated to rugby. However, more must be done by the IRB to excite people of top quality from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and other nations that might be affected, possibly to the point where they are assisted in sponsorship by the IRB.

If such work does not happen, some of these arguably first rate, rugby-centric nations will be relegated to isolated rankings for the rest of their existence, which is not sustainable for the rugby world.

For the growth in rugby – and this will come from the Olympic inclusion – this must be a central issue that is going around the IRB offices, otherwise nothing will stop the road of player poaching and stagnated development.

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Article link: IRB must help smaller nations keep players. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Mexico must be made a second tier rugby nation. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Tapping the hip pockets of rugby’s high rollers. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Australian Rugby starting to engage in Internet age. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Rugby needs an education campaign. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Folau signing about winning Islander support. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Blacktown Stadium is a potential white elephant. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Dublin Conference to get rugby going foward. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Can Australia start paying attention to Sevens?. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: It’s time to re-word rugby’s rules. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: ARU needs to develop women’s rugby. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: How the Celtic League could be truly Celtic. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Will low viewing numbers push rugby free to air?. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Rebels should look for diversity with signings. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Screw the ARU, let’s start our own comp. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: What should’ve been done with Sevens WC. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: A new decade, a new life for rugby. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Can ARU piggyback on the 2011 World Cup?. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: Pick a touring rugby team just to entertain. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: What should new Super Rugby team be called?. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Article link: What about the rest of the rugby world?. Written by rugbyfuture, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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The saying that “rugby league is a gentleman’s game played by thugs and rugby union is a thug’s game played by gentlemen” is an asset to rugby union.