They’re taking our jobs! We need to look after our own! Make Australia strong again!
This may sound a bit like a rallying cry from Donald Trump or Pauline Hanson, but this type of rhetoric – more familiar amid fervent immigration debates – is actually coming from Rugby Australia.
Surely if RA were to build a wall, it would go up halfway across the Nullabor to keep that pesky Western Force lot away.
In fact, it was because the Force were cut last year – reducing the number of Australian Super Rugby sides to four – that RA now feels they can do without as many foreign players.
“Going to four teams means we will work on the foreign talent eligibility because we feel that there’s limited (contracts available),” RA’s high performance manager Ben Whitaker told foxsports.com.au during the week.
“We don’t think that there’s as much need to bring in talent (from overseas) that can play and potentially influence whether you win Super or not because we can back our talent in four teams to do that.”
This policy shift is designed with the broader ambition of improving the Wallabies. This seems to suggest an insecurity from RA about the commercial worth of Super Rugby and highlights their stance that the game’s overall financial health is, more than ever, strongly linked to the success of the Wallabies.
The clear emphasis is on providing depth and exposure for Australia’s rugby talent.
It’s a perfectly logical motivation, especially given the struggles of the Wallabies recently and consistent failure to win back the Bledisloe Cup.
However, it’s hard to think of workplace arrangements in other sporting competitions across the world that are as restrictive to foreigners as they already are for Australia’s Super Rugby sides.
They are still allowed to sign only two foreign players (a rule relaxed at times for the Rebels and Force) to their squads, although some players have come through by committing to residency requirements to become eligible for Wallabies selection.
Tongan-born Taniela Tupou made his Wallabies debut last year while the Brumbies’ Fijian No.8 Isi Naisarani is on Michael Cheika’s radar.
But Whitaker refused to rule out adopting a policy that would totally prohibit foreign players in Australia’s four teams.
“I won’t say it will be zero just yet because we’ve still got some work to do — but the number of ineligible foreign players is certainly dropping and that’s part of the strategy,” Whitaker said.
“But I wouldn’t rule it out altogether because we might end up in a competition where you can jag someone of note that can do a whole of things — support you winning footy games, support the development of the young player and thirdly maybe even grow commercial interests.
“We won’t say never now, but you can see what the strategy is now.”
To put up a big brick wall to foreigners would be a step too far.
For a start, foreigners can simply improve the quality and performance of teams. Think Amanaki Mafi at the Melbourne Rebels, Jacques Potgieter at the Waratahs, Tomas Cubelli at the Brumbies. And when an Australian team is going well, it translates to a lift in anticipation for the Wallabies.
(Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
Plus, the foreigners often bring a bit of colour and spice. This is true not only for fans but they can sometimes provide a point of difference in style and preparation. Adam Thomson and Gareth Delve are two that come to mind as players that would’ve added to the knowledge base of the Queensland Reds and Rebels, bringing across their top-level experience from New Zealand and Wales.
I want the Wallabies to thrive as much as the next proud Strayan, but not at the detriment of potentially watching a foreign player light up Super Rugby, raise the overall level of play and entertainment and put bums on seats for the Waratahs, Reds, Rebels or Brumbies. It’s a stance that’s far too jingoistic.
South Sydney fans don’t go to NRL games just to see bruising Englishman Sam Burgess, but he certainly adds a lot on and off the field and gives Rabbitohs supporters a reason to get behind their team. Not just because he’s a foreigner but that facet certainly adds to the club’s tapestry and appeal.
RA might have been driven to address the issue when last season, three of the five clubs at times had non-Wallabies eligible players starting at five-eighth: Kiwis Jackson Garden-Bachop (Rebels) and Wharenui Hawera (Brumbies) and former Springbok Peter Grant (Force).
Of course, it’s a key position but that feels like an anomaly given the current restrictions.
Surely there’s going to be enough competition amongst all positions as it stands. The cream will rise to the top amongst four teams. Even the early rounds this season suggests the depth issue is balancing itself nicely.
France are also struggling with their foreign player quotas amid a slide in the national side’s success.
Just over 40 per cent of the 600 players in the Top 14 are foreigners and clubs are currently only need to have 14 Frenchmen in their 23-strong matchday squads.
That will rise to 15 next year and 16 in 2020 and it might go even further.
Of course, there are many more teams in the French competition but it’s unlikely they’d talk about even going close to blocking out foreigners altogether.
Don’t put up a wall RA – a few foreigners in Australia’s Super Rugby sides is a good thing.
John R
Roar Guru
So that's a fair resounding silence on all the red hot tens that have fled the country because they can't get a game for the Wallabies. Beauden Barrett has been in the background since 2011 and only got the nod in 2016. It's not the player in fronts fault, it's the administrations fault for not keeping the player motivated to stick around. Guys like Sam Greene and Jake McIntyre must be delusional if they think they should get a look in straight away simply because they are Australian and have a super rugby contract. But they choose to take the easy road and the money overseas.
John R
Roar Guru
Fully agree Akari, crazy that World Rugby rules overrule citizenship!
John R
Roar Guru
If you want to be the best you have to play the best.
Lroy
Guest
Trumps wall is only designed to stop illegal immigrants... people who dont speak English, have no education, are barely literate and will spend the rest of their lives on welfare. So the comparison is moot. ;-)
sheek
Guest
Bakkies, Now, you're being nitpicky. Obviously, when you're old enough to decide what you like & where you want to be, that's when it counts.
sheek
Guest
Bakkies, I can't be sure, but from all indications Vickerman & Rathbone were totally committed, or appeared totally committed, to their new country. They didn't come here for rugby contracts, but for a better life overall. Nor was it opportunistic. Rathbone was SA U/20s captain & assured of a Springbok career. Ditto Vickerman. They didn't see a Wallaby jersey as an "easy route". If I'm clinging to old romanticism, then I'm happy to do so.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yep, totally on the money. There are a lot of "gobsmackingly" stupid decisions that have been happening in Australian rugby for the last 5-8 years. The failure to have a Wallaby selection policy that transparently rewards good play and current form is the tip of the iceberg - Australia has lost at least 20 fringe Wallabies to overseas because they couldn't see a pathway to the Wallabies due to apparent selection bias.
ScottD
Roar Guru
and in the newspapers :)
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Australian rugby appear to have very few True Blues in Super Rugby, as whatever team you look at they have Kiwis, Samoans, Fijians, Poms, South Africans spread through every team ~ which makes one wonder as to whether there's any decent rugby players of Aussie' Descent in any of the Super Teams, ~couple that with two Kiwi Coaches and a South African, jeezuz' what's going on here? Australian rugby is a dead duck as the debacle from last Season has dropped the standard of belief in the system because of it, and it's only a matter of time before those 'Pesky Force'' characters kick into an absolutely better funded better played competition, more enjoyable than the drivel that is playing with all the blessing of an ARU board that cares not a bit about any one Super side, it's their own arse they worry about! Us Force supporters are just waiting to ''shove it right up'' Clyne and co, and we all are just waiting for the day when the poached from WA ex Force players return home to play in a proper competition, along with our Coach. At least it will be well run here as it should be rather than the Mickey Mouse rubbish as played by the Eastern Aussie' so called Super sides!
woodart
Guest
I read this article ,and think about the fifjians who have qualified for aus and the fijians that many aussies are waiting for..... I realise trump is a ---head who has made both mexico and canada think about putting walls up, dont be like trump....
Bakkies
Guest
'However, it’s our choice where we want to live' Not when you are a minor.
Bakkies
Guest
'If deep down he considers himself a Kiwi & he’s playing for the Wallabies, then he’s doing so under false pretences.' You are clinging on to old romanticism. The late Dan Vickerman and Clyde Rathbone qualified to play for the Wallabies under the same criteria as Harris. Over half of the Federal Parliament don't know their own heritage and where they are tied too. False pretences is a harsh allegation and we don't know what goes on behind closed doors.
sheek
Guest
Bakkies, I don't care if someone qualifies as an Aussie through a relative thrice removed or whatever. The point is, outside of rugby, what does Harris consider himself to be? Aussie or Kiwi? If deep down he considers himself a Kiwi & he's playing for the Wallabies, then he's doing so under false pretences. If people think that's okay then they have an entirely different set of values to me. You play sport for the country that you feel you belong to. Not for opportune monetary means.
sheek
Guest
Wallsy, The argument you're promoting is not exactly the same as the rugby argument. Just on your kids, whichever country they relate to most strongly is their country. Country of birth is not important. We don't get a say in where we're born. However, it's our choice where we want to live, contribute & die. People who move to a new country because of economic opportunity for their whole family, freedom to live their lives unencumbered, or to escape oppression, will not doubt embrace their new country & commit to it. In rugby, players are deliberately seeking residence & nationalisation almost purely for professional remuneration. For them, love of adopted country may be a low priority. You are not talking apples with apples, or oranges with oranges. You are comparing apples with oranges.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Are you certain of the ARU powers? SANZAAR claim to have the power to drop any team at will. They threatened to do it. The Aru (a foundation member) could have requested it. They had the power to axe both teams, Axe both Create a new entity. There are ways, they just didn't want to. If media reports are to be believed, no team was approached to consider a merger, so a voluntary merger was never investigated. Why not? The ARU had decided to drop a tean, specifically the force long before the announcements. If I had to guess, it would have been around the time Stooke was Recused from the discussions. If only we could get our hands on those secret minutes.
Fionn
Guest
Doesn't change the fact the dangers associated with rugby/NFL/rugby league are much higher than non-impact sports like soccer/tennis/golf. What matters is the frequency of these very dangerous injuries. Salaris in soccer are much higher anyway.
Harry Jones
Expert
If: 1/ Playing in an Aussie team in SR 2/ Is deemed to be playing “at home” 3/ For NZ-ARG-SA players 4/ SR will improve 5/ SH national teams will improve 6/ The $$$ will start to compete w €£€ 7/ More teams can be added 8/ Australia will save rugby
Wallsy
Roar Rookie
I am a Kiwi, my wife is Irish, and we're a bit nomadic. Our four children are all New Zealand, Irish and Australian citizens (and two of the children are entitled to English citizenship as well). We're in the UK but spent the last ten years in Australia. Leaving aside their lack of interest in rugby, how do you pigeonhole my kids into one nationality? Country of birth? My eldest was born in NZ but has lived there for less than one year. There are plenty of PI kids growing up in Auckland that think of themselves as New Zealanders. I have met many "foreigners" who fervently love their adopted country - why shouldn't they be allowed to represent it if they have committed to relocating themselves there on at least a semi-permanent basis.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Taniela might well become an Aussie Akira. That balances the books imo. A living love and commitment to a home without losing your heritage after serving a suitable indenture does change it for me. Cooper for example is ever an Aussie. Others..... Not so much
Ex force fan
Guest
What do you think would have happened if the ARU did not agree to the Vic government, VRU deal? The Rebels still cannot financie themselve and still does not have a sponsor. The ARU held the cards to make this happen, just refuse to play it.