Since rugby union became a professional sport in 1995, many rugby union bodies have looked towards the Pacific Islands in order to fill their demand for top level rugby stars.
Both New Zealand and French club rugby are filled with Polynesian players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Due to the success of New Zealand in international rugby many other international teams have tried to mimic their success.
One of the biggest reasons for the All Blacks’ success can be attributed to the number of Polynesians in the New Zealand teams over the last two decades.
The biggest of them all was Jonah Lomu, New Zealand-born and of Tongan descent, a man that changed the landscape of rugby as we know it. The demand for Polynesians and other Pacific Island players has been on the rise ever since.
Poaching is a term used in rugby whereby another international team lures a player to play for that country. Usually the player is eligible through the ‘grandparents rule’ or the residency rule and said player receives a fairly large pay packet in return for changing allegiances.
Many Pacific Islanders have complained to World Rugby (formerly the IRB) about this practice which over time leeches out the talents from the Pacific Islands, thus weakening their international side.
One of the biggest examples would be Manu Tuilagi, a Samoan-born player who moved to England when he was young and now plays for England. This did cause an outcry in the Pacific Islands but, needless to say, this has been happening for a very long time.
Former All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, who made a name for himself playing for Waikato in the NPC and later for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, was a much sought out player, both by Fiji and New Zealand where he has been playing since he left high school.
When the three island teams (Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) decided to form a combined team which was similar to the British and Irish Lions, Sivivatu (then uncapped) was one of the first players picked along with Tongan player Sione Lauaki.
Their performance for the Pacific Islanders team caught the eye of the New Zealand coach at the time, Graham Henry. Henry was impressed with both players, particularly Sivivatu who managed to score two tries against New Zealand in his first game.
This led the Pacific Islands Rugby Association to change the rules to only allow capped Pacific Islanders to play for the Pacific Islands team in the future. This was because they did not want the team to be used as a platform for Tier 1 teams to poach some of their young and rising stars.
Sivivatu went on to represent New Zealand, made his international debut against his country of birth and scored four tries on debut.
Recently, Australia have poached a few Pacific Islanders of their own. Australian centre Tevita Kuridrani was born and raised in Fiji but after making it big in Super Rugby in his debut season, he was fast tracked by ARU into the Wallaby jumper.
The current Wallabies team has six players – Will Skelton, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight and Joe Tomane – that were not born in Australia but became a part of the Wallabies via the residency clause.
Additionally, they have recently grasped NSW Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, who was born and raised in Fiji but came to Australia to play rugby league. After failing to make the NRL, he joined the Waratahs in Super Rugby and gained stardom in his first season.
Naiyaravoro eventually left the door ajar by claiming that he would play for his country of birth if he was not picked by the Wallabies for the Rugby World Cup. Despite this, after missing the 31-man touring squad for the World Cup he was added to an expanded 39-man squad to prepare for a one-off match against USA on September 5.
It was a sly move on the part of Cheika as he was well aware that Fiji were waiting on him. By ensuring that Naiyaravoro makes the final 23 roster for the game against USA and plays, he would deny Fiji a weapon that would have strengthened Fiji’s backline. The same backline that is set to face Australia in group play at the Rugby World Cup.
This move will not only start Naiyaravoro’s career as a Wallaby but it will also end it. He is unlikely to make the final 31-member Wallaby squad unless there is an injury. Thus by capping him in the warm-up game against USA, he is denying Fiji the chance to have a good player in their squad.
Additionally he is stopping Naiyaravoro, who will leave for Glasgow later this year, from ever playing international rugby again because the Wallabies do not select overseas-based players in their national team unless they have at least 60 Test caps.
Poaching Pacific Islanders is a ploy used by many international teams to weaken their national teams. Teams that always provide a wildcard factor at the Rugby World Cup. Unfortunately it has now been used again by another Tier 1 team which now begs the question, where do we draw the line?
William
Guest
Bunce was a new zealander with samoan heritage, he was born in Auckland wasnt he.
Cam
Guest
This article is a load of crock. NZ has a massive NZ born PI community. At the moment only Fekitoa is a current all black without a NZ passport. he cam to NZ as a teen and got PR. It was his decision. Before him only Sivivatu in the last decade and a half was an AB without a NZ passport but permanent residency .Yes back the early 90s when rules were more 'fluid' high profile names like Frank Bunce played for Samoa at the 91 world cup and swapped for NZ straight after. Bunce was a NZ citizen but chose Samoa due to path being blocked by Craig Innes and Bernie McCahill. Innes went to Wigan and McCahill was dropped and//or retired and Bunce was in the side. he was allowed to do that,. I challenge you to name any all black besides Fekitoa and Sivivatu (who came to NZ on their own volition) who were "poached" as teens by NZ.
Apuna
Guest
Samoan could stop using all New Zealanders in the team if you wish, you understand the difference between nationality & ethnic group right?
Apuna
Guest
Probably in Australia where he was raised, NSW didnt want him so saders got him, now hes one of the Fijian teams first picks.
Apuna
Guest
Theres 150k people in NZ that identify with samoan heritage, they are not samoan nationals they are NZ nationals, theres like 50k in NZ that are samoan nationals. Im a New Zealander samoan/european heritage, father Kiwi born samoan heritage, mother NZ pakeha. Is like UK saying they have a populaton of 80 odd million with 2.5 million living in NZ because thats their heritage.
Apuna
Guest
Lol & the Heritage rule greatly benefits samoa, years to come as another commentator said Samoan wont even be able to select ethnic samoans as their grandparents were most likey born in New Zealand, making the resident rule the only other option & no theres no ethnic group rule sorry.
Apuna
Guest
Probably because the country you are born in generally makes you a citizen & national, thats pretty important lol, but a player like Steven moore Irish heritage, Australian naturelised, not sure he could even get Saudi citizenship as his parents are Irish & were probably there just working.
Apuna
Guest
Make the residence Rule 5 years & heritage rule only to parents, then see how this really effects Island nations.
Apuna
Guest
State of Origin would have players represent where they were born though. The point at which something comes into existence or from which it derives or is derived is a correct meaning for ya. You probably mean more of a state of heritage where Daniel Carter could play for England.
Apuna
Guest
Think England has over 2million players France & SA are about 500k from World Rugby site.
Apuna
Guest
Do you have the same problem is SA where the black south africans are worried about all the Dutch heritage players playing for the Boks?? because even though the white players are born & breed in SA they still have their roots. This is the same for NZ, NZ is the biggest polynesian nation in the world so it has alot of different polynesian ethnic groups whether they born in NZ or moved there.
Apuna
Guest
& how good do you think these fijian players would be without the experience of playing & training for overseas clubs, also Joe Roko came to NZ when he was like 5 lol how is that poaching, sitivini was living & going to school in NZ long before he played for PI combined team.
Apuna
Guest
Lol Aarons hole is getting bigger & bigger calling countries like Scotland/ wales/ Ireland/England not real countries lol they have only been around hundreds of years.
Apuna
Guest
Welsh, Irish, scottish are also ethnic groups which come from Picts/Gauls etc its no different from samoans/tongans/fijians/maori being sub of a polynesian ethnic group.
Apuna
Guest
Its a national team not a ethnic team, you do understand the difference right? a ethnic samoan/polynesian born in NZ is a New Zealander the same way McCaw with scottish heritage is a New Zealander. Im a New Zealander with samoan heritage so are alot of my mates & family. Would you say the 40 millions americans with african heritage are not americans because of their heritage.
Sonesi
Guest
Vhavnal probably dont know the difference between ethnic group & nationality. Samoan poaches NZ born players with samoan heritage for their teams, or is it the same when NZ fields players of european heritage like McCaw/Carter why isnt that considered poaching.
Kaleni
Guest
Here's another way of looking at it, when you've lived a life of growing up in islands that don't offer as much opportunities as other countries, I'm sure you too will grab that chance of moving to another country for a better life. Not only starting a career in Rugby, but supporting your family back in the islands too. You can call it poaching and what not, at then end of the day it's the players choice. Like they say 'don't bite the hand that feeds you.'
Boris
Guest
Wake up guys! It's a professional sport, money rules and you won't make any real money playing for a Banana republic will you?? You really need to move on here.
Daffyd
Roar Rookie
Interesting article from the UK telegraph. "Rugby uncovered: 'Despicable’ abuse of young Pacific talent is huge stain on game" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/fiji/11854929/Rugby-uncovered-Despicable-abuse-of-young-Pacific-talent-is-huge-stain-on-game.html
Steve
Guest
Sorry, but it's a professional sport nowadays get your head back into the sand? They all play where they can make the big bucks and fair enought, this article is frankly idiotic in todays money driven world. To make you happy live under a Coconut Palm and play for peanuts is best for whom, not the telented player that's for sure.