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Earlier this year, silky backrower Feleti Mateo switched allegiances from Tonga to Australia in a bid to finally break into the New South Wales State of Origin side.
As it happened, Mateo missed out on securing a sky blue jumper yet again.
With the eligibility rules as they stand, Mateo will be watching the 2013 World Cup from home unless he, and others, can be pardoned for the sake of the tournament.
Granted eligibility rules need to be tightened. But exceptional circumstances and the fact the World Cup is only months away should be considered and Mateo must be allowed to represent Tonga.
There is always a slim chance Mateo could be selected for the Kangaroos and be headed to the United Kingdom anyway. But with so many wonderful second rowers ahead of him, chances are slim.
Mateo was expected to be named captain of the Tongans after eight Tests for the fledgling nation.
The rules state that a player can only switch allegiances once between World Cups.
Yes these rules make sense when you are talking about Australia, England and New Zealand. But why can’t exceptions be made for the sake of the Cup?
“I have just decided to back myself,” Mateo told stuff.co.nz in February.
“I had always played for Tonga and the rule was that once I changed I couldn’t go back, so I thought that if I did that and didn’t get picked then I would rule myself out for Tonga and I didn’t want to do that but now I have decided to go that path.”
Italian captain Anthony Minichiello should have been an option for Blues selectors after Jarryd Hayne’s injury but he was ruled out due to the impending tournament in November.
Let’s go one further and say NSW winger James McManus should be pulling on the Scottish jumper at the end of the year too.
Or what about Jarryd Hayne if he misses out for Australia? Shouldn’t he be allowed to play for Fiji?
These eligibility rules are supposed to stop the likes of Australia poaching all the best talent and make the international game an even playing field. Should the rules be so strict at the other end of the spectrum where countries need all the help they can get?
Some punters would even argue that the emerging nations should get first pick of all eligible players.
If that was the case, the 2008 Australian World Cup squad would have looked somewhat different.
Petero Civoneciva would have been leading out Fiji and Israel Folau, Brent Kite and Anthony Tupou would be wearing the red of Tonga instead of the green and gold of Australia.
Money plays a part in everything these days and that includes rugby league. If players were paid anywhere near the same amount as they would receive for representing Australia you can bet your bottom dollar they wouldn’t have a problem playing for Fiji or Tonga.
An international is still an international.
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