In recent history, the Australian Rugby Union changed the rules to allow foreign players and developing foreign players to join Australian teams in the Super Competition.
There have been a number of players come and go, and only a few that have left a lasting impression on Super Rugby history.
The Emirates Western Force has had a number of ‘marquee’ foreigners, but has rarely received a return on the field to match the hype that initially surrounded their signings.
Injury has plagued the Force’s marquee signings, preventing some from ever pulling on a game-day jersey.
Andre Pretouris, the former Springbok, came to the Force as the answer to the problems at 10. The jersey is surely jinxed. The Sea of Blue was never to see him perform, as he was struck down in the first captain’s run of the year, tearing his hamstring clean off the bone.
Pretouris spent his year-long contract on the sidelines, in a Force suit and in training kit only during rehab and visits to local schools. The Force struggled through without the benefits of a top 10 or a marquee for the year, and the rugby community never got to witness how well a South African 10 could slot into an Australian team.
High hopes were placed that the talent of Willie Ripia would inject his magic into our backs. While he did play a few games for the Force, he was in far from career-best form, and left right before round one this year due to well documented personal demons.
To date, David Smith is probably the Force’s only marquee player to show his potential, and was a huge contributor during the 2011 campaign. A player and crowd favourite who was justly rewarded with the club’s best and fairest award in 2011. David is currently playing well with former Force and Wallaby great Matt Giteau at Toulon in the French Top 14 and has indicated that he would like to return to the Force in the future.
Napolioni Nalaga is the current marquee player, and although troubled with injury and lack of quality ball, he is showing signs of why the Force went after him. He played his best game of the year against the Lions, and showed what can happen when he is involved and the ball is in his hands.
Since their introduction, the Melbourne Rebels were fortunate to be able to recruit a larger number of international players on their roster than any other team in Super history.
They had the opportunity to recruit some of the biggest names on the international market, and some younger developing players from both New Zealand and South Africa.
Of these internationals some have made it regularly into their match day 22. The most notable signings were Danny Ciprani and Gareth Delve.
Gareth Delve has become a strong leader and one of the team’s most valuable players on and off the field. As captain, Gareth has stood tall in a Melbourne forward pack and has revamped his career; he must have been close to getting a recall into the Welsh team after his consistent form.
English international Danny Cipriani has showed highlights of what he can do on a field, highlighted by his comprehensive kicking talent. We unfortunately only saw glimpses of his true potential, and read more about his off-field antics rather than his on-field brilliance. This is truly unfortunate as he, of all the European players, was suited to the Super style of Rugby.
The other Rebels international worth mentioning is Ged Robison, who has been a quiet achiever but wonderful for the club following injury dramas around the hooker position. Hopefully he will stay in the competition for some time and further prove his worth.
While the Waratahs, Reds, and Brumbies haven’t in my mind used international options as much as the previous teams, two names stand out: Sarel Pretouris for the Waratahs, and Daniel Braid for the Queensland Reds.
Sarel has been in and out of the Waratah team, which appears to be struggling to establish its identity in recent times. He is one of the quickest halfbacks around, and was a try-scoring machine for the Cheetahs before heading to Australia.
Unfortunately he has lacked the consistency that saw him as one of the form halfbacks of 2011. I think Sarel will only improve the longer he stays with the Tahs, once he forms a solid relationship with the team, particularly the No. 10.
Daniel Braid had a most difficult task, and that was to fill the void left by David Croft at the Reds.
Crofty was one of the toughest competitors around, and excelled at Super Rugby. His passion and pride for Queensland was second to none. Daniel was able to fill those shoes and play some of his best footy while he was in the Reds jersey. This form saw him become an All Black again once he returned to New Zealand’s shores.
So we can see how many international players have reached our shores, and played for our Super teams with mixed results. Some have played their best football and gained representative honours. Others have enjoyed our sun, sand, and laid-back lifestyle too much, not producing their best football.
There has been some media speculation that the Force require recruitment concessions in the form of more international players, similar to those enjoyed by the Rebels, to become a strong consistent performer in Super rugby.
This argument is based on the challenging recruitment environment that the Western Australian franchise has always faced. Perth is the most isolated city in the world, not just in Australia.
The shortest flight for an away game is four and a half hours, while teams on the east coast have three away games within two hours. This also means that Force players and their partners are at least four and a half hours away from family and friends on the east coast.
WA is also a well-established AFL state, with rugby union generally mentioned a dozen pages in to the local sports section. WA also has limited funding for community development compared to east coast states, meaning this is unlikely to change any time soon.
Perth does not have the club rugby stocks and structure to draw upon to develop our own players in the numbers that are required.
Unfortunately at the moment we are also without a head coach, and our captain, David Pocock, is yet to commit for 2013. I suggest that he could hardly be expected to commit when the coaching position is still not filled.
I am from the central coast of NSW, but having been in Perth for seven years, and married a local, I feel that this is my home. I can tell any prospective player the positives of the club, lifestyle, fans, and the many other benefits of my adopted home, but they do not necessarily mitigate the points I mentioned earlier.
The environment in WA is unique within Australian rugby, and the standard approach employed by the ARU is not conducive to the success of this franchise.
Additional mature-aged foreign players would do wonders for the performances and development of all players within the club. Five strong franchises are surely what is best for Australian rugby, allowing the Wallabies to draw top talent from five teams who all know how to win, and how to play beside and against the best.
Recruitment concessions for the Force need to be considered to assist the club to develop into a competitive base for rugby. To date the Force have enjoyed limited returns for their internationals, largely due to injuries, but their potential contribution to the team cannot be underestimated in small-town Perth.
The development of rugby in WA would definitely advance rapidly if the Force was a consistently successful, competitive team. The first Force home game at the 43,000-seat Subiaco Oval nearly sold out, and the Force had the highest number of members of any Super rugby franchise in the competition at the time.
There is support for rugby in Perth to make it viable. But how long will the loyalty of the Sea of Blue be sustained without success?
Membership numbers drop each year, as do crowds.
An analysis of the WA situation is needed, and something needs to be done to change the trend, ensuring the Force thrives, not just survives.
I will be in Perth long after I retire, and I hope to be at Force games supporting a competitive team that is in the hunt for a premiership like the other four Australian teams.
With some strategic concessions from the ARU, that success could be a reality sooner rather than later.
Lats
Guest
Great article Matt.... Do the force have full time recruting people in Brisbane and Sydney who spend saturdays looking at under 19's games to identify the next generation of talent?? Maybe the Force should have a chat to the West Coast Eagles recruiters and learn how they do it, maybe copy their systems. All the top AFL clubs all have recruiters in Melourne Perth and Adelaide who video the kids and write reports etc on the next generation of talent. I also think we need a national under 19's and 21's carnival every year, featuring every state, (QLD and NSW could probably field city and country sides) this would allow the S15 sides a chance to look at the talent on offer, if the Force see a kid from QLD they like and he is not under contract they can sign him up on the spot. You could even have a barbarians side made up of pacific islanders, kiwis and Saffas who wanted to try their luck in Oz.. Given the largish Polenysian population in Western Sydney, is the ARU doing anything , or enough to entice those kids to rugby?
Macattack
Guest
Great, well considered article Hodgo, please keep hold of this cudgel, these things don't change easily and persistence is so important. To the ARU - the last few of years at the Force have been damned hard, but as Matt's article explains, the foundation support is present in WA with outstanding member and attendance numbers having been demonstrated. All it needs for re-ignition is on-field success. The ARU has a choice; constructively intervene to help the franchise succeed in an isolated AFL stronghold; or betray us by neglect. To Matt, your commitment to the Force and what you demonstrate each week on and off the field have earned you an outstanding following and enormous respect within the sea of blue. Thanks for all you do for rugby in WA.
mattamkII
Guest
Hi Charles (from adelaide), Hindmarsh stadium would be the more likely choice for a venue. Its square and holds about 12-15k. They play NRL fixtures there every so often and they used to play the state union games there too. Adelaide oval isn't actually that bad if you sit on the side rather than the goal lines. Remember its a very narrow ground. I've been to a few test there and didn't think it was bad at all. Wouldn't want to be sitting behind the post mind you - long way from the action. Also, its not all about converting AFL fans. Its not a huge number but my guess would be a team in Adelaide would pull about 10,000 people to a game every week. Matt (Lived in Adelaide and played rugby there for 30 years)
Brett McKay
Expert
I've mentioned this before - it would be great if as the Rebels lose some of their OS allowances, that they just transfer to the Force. If both teams have five or six OS spots available (with the possible caveat that they can't prevent a talented Australian player coming through in that position, or something like that), than I can't see that as a bad thing. A great article though, Hodgo, the Force cannot be allowed to wither..
Johnno
Guest
mattamkill I agree. Adelaide is a natural rugby union city. Just needs the work it has so much potential New 50,000 Adelaide Oval renovation being completed 1.2 million people and growing in size over next 20 years history has shown Adelaide sports teams are natural winners won many national titles Closer to east coast cities than Perth It is a well planned city tonnes of playing fields big ex pat populations NZ,ENGLAND,STH AFRICA A strong middle class who can afford registration and junior development And a hunger to watch more big time sport and a big middle class who can afford foxtel pay tv subsrictipions so that equals tv ratings$$$$
mattamkII
Guest
Liam Gill, Brock James and Seuteni all played most of their jnr rugby in Adelaide. The are countless others who have played 1st grade in NSW and Qld. Some even have played NPC or had Super or NRL contracts. Untapped talent over there in spades
charles (from Adelaide)
Guest
I can't believe anyone would schedule rugby at Adelaide Oval, even Sevens. Great place for cricket or AFL but useless for rugby. It has to be Hindmarsh Stadium. Spectators raised on AFL and used to watching sport on TV will never get into the game when they're so far from the action. Might have worked in the old days but, really, if you're in Sydney would you rather watch a match at the SCG, ANZ or SFS? SFS for mine! AAMI Stadium in Melbourne is even better, with steep tiers of seating in the European style that make you feel like you could touch the game.
Johnno
Guest
marika Vunibaka Fiji, rupeni thau thau fiji. And anthony perinesse Samoa, khan foutali. But those men were eligible for NZ, and chose Samoa so thats why. Some call Samoa ALl blacks B team, coz 15 out of 30 born there from world cup squad and countless of them also did schooling in NZ or at least played in the ITM cup. But i see your point also coz so much depth in NZ, and alsp the PI players still most go to Japan or Europe as better money,.
Blue Blood
Guest
Exactly. Roe took over as captain in April 2005 when Elton Flatley was forced to retire and stand-in captain Nathan Sharpe announced he was leaving the side. So the Sharpe situation was completely different to the of Pocock as it stands today. Surprising that Reds fans and the media beat that situation up as much as they did and still bring it up at all.
Chris
Guest
Hi Refer to this article from February: http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/02/28/pacific-islands-being-shut-out-of-super-rugby/ There are very few PI-born players who also have represented their country in NZ Super rugby -the three you mentioned (are there any others?) Mahonri Schwalger - he played club and provincial rugby in NZ in1999, starting with 2nd division Hawkes Bay, for six years before being offered a Super contract. Pisi is similar - five full seasons at provincial level for Nth Harbour before a Super contract. Sona Taumalolo played four years provincial rugby (another from 2nd division Hawkes Bay), he's lived in NZ since 2001. So these three at least were not 'imports' just for Super rugby.
p.Tah
Guest
Agree KPM, I used QLD as an example because I couldn't think of any young guns in the Rebels or the Force who are currently playing but would lose their place to an import. Tapaui and CFS were probably not great examples. Just highlighting that unfortunately Super rugby is often a development tool for young players who aren't quite at the top level yet. They are improving quickly because they are in an environment that allows them to develop, however if we bring in imports these kids may lose their place in the super rugby squad and spend most of their time in club rugby. Hence the need for a wider training squad (academies) that develops these kids in the super rugby environment. Was that a 3rd tier I just described! ;)
TRH
Guest
Sharpe never captained the reds Full time - Flatley was captain in 2005.
sittingbison
Guest
yup Bulldog that is pretty much the consensus of the fans. JON has got it in for us and is willing us to fail. The ARU has not done a single thing to help our struggling team. In fact upon reflection I am wrong, they have done something, they parachuted Richard Graham in as deputy coach when John Mitchell was knifed in the back by GitsGate. It was not a help though, all the best elements of the Force the passion, endeavour and flair went out the window under RG who introduced the brain dead aimless kicking game that is anathema to WA. We couldn't see the back of him quick enough given the opportunity, thank god the players made their decision and boo to the board for putting them in that position, the Board should have had the gumption to do it.
sittingbison
Guest
I'm in Perth lads, completely agree, but never give up the opportunity for MORE good looking girls hehe
formeropenside
Guest
Rubbish, NSW need QLD imports to be competitive.
formeropenside
Guest
Commitment to the club....hmmm, like then Qld-captain Sharpe when he left for the Force in 2005?
Wilson
Guest
I completely agree. But hash out a deal. Spell out what you want money wise if you have to (as Vern Reid and Mitch Hardy are hardly master minds); then sign the deal. Don't let it turn into a media circus that it is increasingly becoming. Surely better players are more likely to commit if Pocock is already signed on for the next few years. How can he work to build a playing list for next year when he isn't even on that playing list yet? Richard Graham was walked for wanting to do the same only 2 months ago.
jeznez
Guest
Agree with Bulldog, spent some time in Perth circa 1999/2000. Wednesday nights at the Lederville and Sundays at the Cot were fantastic.
Bulldog
Guest
Matt - Totally agree with your assessment. I think the problem for the Force is JON. Unfortunately I get the impression he has it in for you guys in WA due to the fact the Force was introduced when he was not involved in the ARU. JON has a record for getting rid of stuff in the ARU he did not sanction.
Bulldog
Guest
You obviously have not been to Perth. Loads of stunning woman over there.