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Opinion

Why Japan and the clubs are in the wrong over Quade and Samu

Roar Guru
28th October, 2021
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Roar Guru
28th October, 2021
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The rules in rugby are clear on this matter.

Look at World Rugby – Regulation 9 – Player Availability.

This says that clubs cannot block selection of players to a national team.

Clause 9.3 No Union, Association, Rugby Body or Club whether by contract, conduct or otherwise may inhibit, prevent, discourage, disincentivise or render unavailable any Player from selection, attendance and appearance in a National Representative Team or National Squad session when such request for selection, attendance and appearance is made in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation 9. Any agreement and/or arrangement between a Player and a Rugby Body or Club or between a Union or an Association and a Rugby Body or Club (and/or any proposal made and/or attempted to be made howsoever communicated) which is contrary to this Regulation 9.3 is prohibited, including, but not limited to any agreement and/or arrangement and/or proposal pursuant to which a Player is (or would be) unable to exercise the right to play for a Union.

Samu Kerevi and Quade Cooper play for Suntory Goliaths and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners respectively. They were playing for Australia wearing the Wallaby Jersey, one would think something to be highly valued, then suddenly the tell all the world they are no longer available.

They tell us their club commitments are more important. I say the clubs and JRFU are in breach of Regulation 9.

So what is Andy Marinos doing about this? Wasn’t it Japan who wanted Rugby Australia (RA) to help it rejoin the Pacific rugby competitions?

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Isn’t it Japan who wants to be part of the Rugby Championship and looking for Australia’s support? Isn’t it Japan who wants Australia to visit and to play tests against its national side?

Wasn’t it Australia who were one of Japan’s biggest supporters to win the World Cup? Why would Japanese Rugby want to irritate RA?

Where are all the Australian influencers of all things Rugby? Does Eddie Jones, the adviser/consultant to Suntory Rugby and current coach of England have anything to do with the decision about as he put it “the hard running Kerevi” to play his precious England team?

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When are we going to hear from Andy Marinos and the board of RA about this outrage? Is Australia going to allow this to happen, because if you allow it once it will create a precedent for the future?

When is RA going to apply pressure to JRFU? What punitive action is going to be taken by World Rugby under clause 9.3? What is JRFU saying about this, what is their response? Come on what the hell!!

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Australia is a small country in numbers, but has a big influence in many matters. Just ask the Chinese about Australia as they try and impose punitive action on our trade and politics.

We demand action and answers. All I’m hearing at the moment is crickets.

This is outrageous! I say everything is off the table with Japanese Rugby until this is resolved. No more cooperation or support from Australian rugby until we get a resolution.

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