Allow foreign players to play in the Super 14

Having done a bit more thinking about this I certainly think the Australian provinces could accomodate foreign props quite easily. Christian Califano said that it was a dream for him to play for Auckland, likewise Michalak at the Sharks, I am sure there are plenty of props who would love a sabbatical down under. Realistically the provinces could take a player on loan each season, and then get another in, for a period of 5 years or so, depending on what positions they are light in. For example, the Brumbies could do with a good loosehead to help Henderson and Alexander in training and also to oppose Sheperdson in training. Imagine if they could have Roncero for a season, then Marconnet, then Perugini? It is more likely than the latin players would prefer a swap, without wanting to deal in cliches, they do tend to have a more romantic version of rugby than perhaps Phil Vickery would. Also, without seeking to court controversy I think Australia would be better served loaning u20 props to England, and not France due to the language barrier, because I don't think the older players would make the top teams starting xv in the Premiership. Scrummaging is a learning experience and Australia would be doing better to have a whole new generation coming through than having to deal with the logistical problems of having the more senior players to and froing.

I think the majority of Australian props would benefit from a spell in the English national division 1, the scrummaging is more intense in that league than it is in the Premiership. Other than that I don't think Australia should look at long-term imports but short-term signings a la Michalak at the Sharks. If the right players came over a season is long enough to pass on knowledge etc, perhaps veterans like Ledesma, Scelzo, Milloud, Marconnet, Lo Cicero etc.

It is simple. We do not have enough players. So we must allow overseas players. My preference would be for PI and Argentinian players, as has been pointed out this means some of their better players may stay down here which means it makes the logistics for adding thme to the TN's feasible. I would give preference to players who have not represented their country so if they live here for 3 yrs could qualify for the Wallabies. I would also send young academy props to Europe on a scholarship to learn how to prop. Someone like Kepu and Alexander would really benefit. The guys on the fringe.

A lot of players would like to play in the S14 so I can't see themselves pricing themselves out of the market. Michalak always wanted to play in the S14, I'm sure compromises could be found all over the park but I cannot imagine the Australian officials ever lowering themselves by entering into agreement with English clubs.

The buck does partially stop the ARU and your scheme. At present the ARU cannot strictly afford any frontline English / French prop at present contract values.. They do not have as you say the bucks. The ARU is concerned the traffic will always be one way.The ARU may be able to attract Georgians and perhaps Pacific Islanders and Argetinians. Check the current contracts the ARU offers it is not even in the ball park unless the individual was keen to play in super 14 . French rugby offers to the Leaguies have also driven up the price of contracts for the ARU.

Coutts was at Sale Justin but now he's moved to France. David Fitter had a few games at London Irish before they moved him on. I think it definitely would be a sound idea with the better coached clubs; Wasps, Harlequins etc, however I'm not sure how many players would want to go to Saracens with Jonesy. If England want their backs more skilfull and Australia want better scrummagers I can't see any fault with it, although I'm sure that other nations might get a bit testy. I also think there's merit in the Argentine route - Rodriguez, Noriega. The climates are the same, same hemisphere. Good times. Westy, that's business for you. Where does the buck stop for that one?

There seems to be 2 different conversations going on here. To me this article is about having foreigners play in S14 to ensure all our temas are competitive. Meaning that while they play for our S14 teams they are not eligible for the Wallabies. They are here to help our S14 teams pure and simple. True Tah - it seems what you are proposing is to poach the Georgians and have them play for us or have I got that all wrong? Either way I like the idea of having some "guest" players in S14. There must be some players in the NH who are keen to experience Super rugby ala Freddie Michalek. I am not an advocate of going down the poaching road however. Long term investment in coaching and development of front rowers is the way to go. If some of these props from ARG are so good then get them as technical coaches. Hang on we have a legend on our doorstep in Topo Rodriguez! Benjamin, quite like your idea. Both parties would gain plenty. Perhaps it is beginnning to happen but slightly differently with players like Rodney Blake going to France for 2 years and also I think Ben Coutts was in England for a few seasons before coming back to the Reds. Either way it has merit.

Benjamin would it not be better for the ARU to pretend it does not have 190000 participants and its real "player" strength is below 25000. senior male players. Even the IRB only gives them 29100 regular players. Bluntly the ARU needs to grow the game. This means going outside its traditional audience in Australia.. It is very hesitant to do so. The ARU cannot even get all the leaguies who want to play they play in France.

I don't see why England and Australia have never got an exchange program going, for instance Australian u20 forwards to train and live in England for a year/season, likewise with u20 English backs in Australia. I also don't see why Australian S14 teams have never sent their young props to England for a short while, i.e Sheperdson, Henderson etc. Scrummaging is a learning experience so they would surely learn more in one season in Britain than less than 20 games in Australia? Realistically if Australia were going to import props it would be better to pick Argentines given the climate etc. If so many go to Italy, why not Australia? In a dream scenario I'd love to see Castrogiovanni, Parisse, Heymans, Szarzewski, Chabal and Trin-Dunhc getting a few S14 games.

Not trolling .....but....... you don't have enough quality players now ........... add a new team and you need em. I am so sick of all this one day someone should go and look at how many players actually play I have heard its over 250, 000 when all states are added together ..........I watch a bit of club rugby ........ Eastwood the woodies ...... not to many S14 types at matches say Gordon V Woodies, and I talk to the blokes on the committee at local park teams and the story I get is rugby is loosing the battle at park level big time for the quality player, choosing instead other codes.

I have to tell you the numbers at both a junior and senior level for Australian rugby just do not seem to ad up or match the published figures.

bradley, you have a point. Interestingly Tim Lane, the current coach of Georgia reckons the ARU would be best served by getting Georgian youngsters to Australia, and reckons there are like 12 decent props available for Georgia. Having seen the Georgian names though, I reckon Kearns and Marto would have problems with then pronunciations.

Australia needs Props. Imported Props can help the youngsters alot better than the useless guys the ARU has at the moment. also import some Props for the lower leagues as well. Did you know; John Smit served some time under Federico Mendez at the sharks, this must have had an excellent influencce on his carreer. Mendez then went on to western Province (stormers) and even assisted at the Bulls as well as the Sprinkboks under Jake White before returning to argentina. If South Africa who breeds forwards can see the benefit of an overseas player why can't the wallabies? do not go the Chelsea route and have 15 foreigners only say 5 max in a squad and a max of 3 on the field at any given time.

Fragglerocker, I agree definitely. It will benefit Aussie rugby, and it will definitely help out the international game, let me explain. If the balance of Argentinean players are playing in Southern Hemisphere comps, say for Melbourne or Waratahs, then there would be less issues with getting these guys for the Tri Nations or whatever the hell it will be called. Ditto for all the Islander blokes playing in UK and France, a lot of these guys would be out here in a second, imagine Rupeni Caucau tearing down the wing for the Brumbies. These guys could become cult figures, like Adrian Morley was at the Roosters, or the Beast with Sharks fans....gosh can you imagine Beast doing a run like he did down the wing in the Durban test match. Longy, you're view sounds like Australian rugby should be a sheltered workshop.

If Australian Rugby is to add another Supper 14 team or perhaps even two new teams it is likely we will need some OS players, they could come from the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Japan, USA and Canada. You would think a limited number of OS players per team would have to be set in stone. We still need to grow our own talent and encourage rugby players to commit to union and not change over to league for professional opprtunities. But really building a stronger Australian rugby pond is a ten year plan, media rights are up in 2010 and new teams need to be considered now. There aren't enough quality Australians rugby to set up yet, currently we are struggling to keep 4 Super 14 teams competitive...

Longy, nonsense, a small handful of picked players will only improve facets of Australian rugby.

Bollocks! Anyone going O/S stays O/S. Otherwise we'll end up like soccer and no talent left here - no-one playing grade rugby. Let's treat it exactly the same as when league was poaching some of our finest in the amateur days. It's a simple line to draw in the sand. You either play Aussie rugby or not.