Just shows what a clown Ings is….and that really he has no idea what he is talking about.

“World Rugby is committed to the highest-possible anti-doping standards. The WADA-compliant World Rugby Regulation 21 mirrors the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code and the WADA International Standard for Testing and Investigations.

“It does not require a player to be included in a testing pool for a defined period of time prior to selection if they are being selected for international competition for the first time. This position is entirely consistent with World Rugby’s approach to other cross-over athletes, including other ex-NFL athletes coming into rugby.

“Therefore, Hayne would be eligible for the London round of the World Rugby Sevens Series subject to all other regulatory and registration matters being met.

“He would also be immediately included in World Rugby’s pre-Rio 2016 risk-based testing programme, which since January 2016 has included a comprehensive programme of targeted in and out of competition blood and urine testing on players likely to compete in Rio.”

Ings is just a nobody who wants his name in the media.

Its called sport, and selection in a sporting team isnt about fairness… its about who is the best on the park.

Obviously there are members of the Fiji 7s team (and other 7s teams) who have been working hard all year or for several years on the 7s world series.

However is their normal World Series team the best possible team Fiji could select?

No. Because the reality is that every country uses 7s as a development tool, to develop young players, and once Fijian or other 7s players shine on the world 7s circuit they are generally signed to lucrative XVs contracts, and if good enough, play for their country in XVs.

Thats why almost every team has been bringing in and trying players from XVs this season, because the normal 7s teams dont necessaarily have the best 7s players, because better players may be playing XVs. Some people also say “isnt fair” on the long terms members of the 7s squads, but if someone can come in a show they are better, they will be selected. If they cant show they are better, like Cooper failed to do, they wont be selected.

But how many players would choose to keep playing 7s over a Super rugby contract or a contract or a starting spot in a top level european club? Very few.

Ben Ryan the Fijian coach has also brought in two other players from European clubs in the last month … and he was very blunt about what will now happen to the Fijian squad, having won the series they may experiment with players in London, they will then go into camp, and based on his judgement, he will select the players that he thinks can win Rio.

Remember Ryan has said himself, he rang up Hayne, it wasnt the other way around, so he obviously thinks Hayne may be able to add something to his team.

I hope Fiji can win gold in Rio, their second ever medal in the Olympics, if that is with Hayne, good on him.

Good game plane …

Hayne isnt particularly being given any more flexability that other athletes not yet selected for the Olympics.

As the Fijian Olympic Committee Presidente said, as soon as he is selected in the Fijian rugby squad he has to be available for testing.

Hayne has also volunteered for extra testing, and may be tested at the London 7s if he plays or in out of competition testing with the Fijian squad or in any lead up tournaments they play.

Its important not to exaggerate the amount of testing that goes on, and regarding rugby, there are still 16 Mens and Women’s teams who are vying for the last spot in Rio, which will be won in tournaments in Monaco and Dublin, not to mention athletes from other sports that are still trying to qualify, and many if not most of those athletes will not have ever been tested.

For rugby thats more than 190 players, from countries such as Mexico, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, the Cook Islands and Kashakastan. I doubt any of those players have ever been tested for drugs domestically. I’ve played tests in several South American 15s championships and there simply isnt drug testing in countries which dont have professional rugby. Drug tests cost money and most Natioanl Rugby Unions dont have the money to pay for tests.

The assumption that after a decade of playing in WADA tested professional sport, Hayne decided to shoot up to reach his NFL dream, despite the high chances that he would fail, and be forced to make a quick return to WADA drug tested sports, isnt particularly credible. The NFL in fact has drug testing, although its testing procedures and bans are not as strict as WADA.

And even if he had taken WADA banned drugs in his time in the NFL .. detection methods these days mean banned drugs could still be detected in the testing he is going to now be subjected to as a member of the Fiji squad.

Agreed, his twitter account says “Making websites talk, drugs in sport, match fixing and calling tennis balls in or out.” He seems to be self obsessed nobody, who once had a semi important job, and who today just wants to create headlines … even though he doesnt seem to even understand the rules he quotes.

Actually you can bar an athlete without proof he has taken drugs … in several sports such as swimming and athletics, the suspension for refusing to take a test or for not being at places you have designated for out of competition testing, is actually the same length as a suspension for testing positive to drugs.

Regardless, Hayne isnt coming back from retirement … and hasnt refused to take any tests.

SBS published an informative article on the issue this morning

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/16/haynes-rio-dream-will-not-be-derailed-doping-rules

It seems to indicate that neither the Fijian Olympic Committee or World Rugby or WADA would require a 6 month stand down period from Hayne.

“The head of Fiji’s Olympic Committee said she could not speak about Hayne specifically but said their selection policies did not require athletes to go through an effective six month stand down period while they entered the testing programme prior to representing the country.
…..

World Rugby’s Regulation 21, which deals with the anti-doping policy, does not mention a stand-down period for players returning to competition unless they have previously retired or are serving a ban and are in the “registered testing pool”.

The registered testing pool is for players whose behaviour was considered ‘high risk’. Such players contemplating a return to competition are required to make themselves available for six months testing beforehand.

Under Article 20 of the WADA code, the only requirement for athletes who have not been “regular members” of a sport — like Hayne — is that they make themselves available for testing and comply with the relevant whereabouts rules.”

There have also been other cases of rugby players returing from the NFL such as Saracens player Haydn Smith, who didnt have a 6 month stand down after a season with the NY Jets .. and Nate Ebner, who played 15 NFL games last season, including the AFC Championship game in January, and who played in the Hong Kong and Singapore sevens after being released by the Patriots NFL team in March.

There were actually quite a few NFL teams who said they were willing to take on Hayne after he was first dropped by the 49ers to their practice squad. In the end Hayne chose to stay with the 49ers, but it seemed other teams were interested in him.

Trying out for Olympic 7s for Fiji might be a way Hayne can make a clean break from the 49ers .. before signing for another NFL team next year.

Obviously it is his choice and we dont know what he is thinking, but I wouldnt say his 1 year stint was really a success, and he might get more game time with another team. Even with a year or 2 more in the NFL, he could then return to League or play union in Europe.

Good observation.

OzBasket 2043 here we come!

It seems to be a non issue … and Ings is just looking for some publicity … Have a look at the moniker on his twitter account .. “Making websites talk, drugs in sport, match fixing and calling tennis balls in or out.” He seems to be self obsessed nobody who just wants some headlines…

As someoneelse mentioned, there is another former NFL player playing rugby 7s, Nate Ebner, is a professional NFL player with the Patriots … and was released by the Patriots in March this year to play rugby sevens for the USA. He played in both the Hong Kong and Singapore 7s without any stand down period, considering he played in the AFC Championship game on January 24, and played 15 games during the season.

The agreeement for Ebner to play 7s only came in March … and I doubt he was involved in any WADA drug testing before he had permission to play rugby.

Another precedent comes from retired rugby players returning to rugby without a six month standown period. There have been several examples of players called out of retirement, who have immediately returned to playing in both league and union (and other sports which are WADA compliant).

SBS also recently published the following having talked to the Fijian Olympic Committee

“The head of Fiji’s Olympic Committee said she could not speak about Hayne specifically but said their selection policies did not require athletes to go through an effective six month stand down period while they entered the testing programme prior to representing the country.

“No (there is no requirement). Every athlete who becomes a squad member and then finally a Team Fiji member is aware that at some stage they could be randomly chosen to be drug tested,” FOC Secretary General Lorraine Mar told Reuters from Suva.

“There is no criteria that they have to be tested a number of times. So that’s not a consideration, but the athlete needs to be aware they could be drug tested.”

Mar said World Rugby could have rules about players being required to be available for drug testing before being allowed to compete.

World Rugby’s Regulation 21, which deals with the anti-doping policy, does not mention a stand-down period for players returning to competition unless they have previously retired or are serving a ban and are in the “registered testing pool”.

The registered testing pool is for players whose behaviour was considered ‘high risk’. Such players contemplating a return to competition are required to make themselves available for six months testing beforehand.

Under Article 20 of the WADA code, the only requirement for athletes who have not been “regular members” of a sport — like Hayne — is that they make themselves available for testing and comply with the relevant whereabouts rules.

A similar rule applies to National Olympic Committees. As soon as athletes are identified on their ‘long list’ of entrants for competition, they must be made available for testing.”

Hayne will also obviously be tested (if chosen to play) at the London Sevens and any other competitons he plays in the following months, as well as any out of competitioin testing he may be chosen for. He has also said he is willing to volunteer for testing.

Seems to be a non issue. Whether Hayne is good enough to make the Fijian team is another issue.

It seems to be a non issue … and Ings is just looking for some publicity … Have a look at the moniker on his twitter account .. “Making websites talk, drugs in sport, match fixing and calling tennis balls in or out.” He seems to be self obsessed nobody who just wants some headlines…

As someoneelse mentioned, there is another former NFL player playing rugby 7s, Nate Ebner, is a professional NFL player with the Patriots … and was released by the Patriots in March this year to play rugby sevens for the USA. He played in both the Hong Kong and Singapore 7s without any stand down period, considering he played in the AFC Championship game on January 24, and played 15 games during the season.

The agreeement for Ebner to play 7s only came in March … and I doubt he was involved in any WADA drug testing before he had permission to play rugby.

Another precedent comes from retired rugby players returning to rugby without a six month standown period. There have been several examples of players called out of retirement, who have immediately returned to playing in both league and union (and other sports which are WADA compliant).

SBS also recently published the following having talked to the Fijian Olympic Committee

“The head of Fiji’s Olympic Committee said she could not speak about Hayne specifically but said their selection policies did not require athletes to go through an effective six month stand down period while they entered the testing programme prior to representing the country.

“No (there is no requirement). Every athlete who becomes a squad member and then finally a Team Fiji member is aware that at some stage they could be randomly chosen to be drug tested,” FOC Secretary General Lorraine Mar told Reuters from Suva.

“There is no criteria that they have to be tested a number of times. So that’s not a consideration, but the athlete needs to be aware they could be drug tested.”

Mar said World Rugby could have rules about players being required to be available for drug testing before being allowed to compete.

World Rugby’s Regulation 21, which deals with the anti-doping policy, does not mention a stand-down period for players returning to competition unless they have previously retired or are serving a ban and are in the “registered testing pool”.

The registered testing pool is for players whose behaviour was considered ‘high risk’. Such players contemplating a return to competition are required to make themselves available for six months testing beforehand.

Under Article 20 of the WADA code, the only requirement for athletes who have not been “regular members” of a sport — like Hayne — is that they make themselves available for testing and comply with the relevant whereabouts rules.

A similar rule applies to National Olympic Committees. As soon as athletes are identified on their ‘long list’ of entrants for competition, they must be made available for testing.”

Hayne will also obviously be tested (if chosen to play) at the London Sevens and any other competitons he plays in the following months, as well as any out of competitioin testing he may be chosen for. He has also said he is willing to volunteer for testing.

Seems to be a non issue. Whether Hayne is good enough to make the Fijian team is another issue.

oh dear .. very resentful arnt we? .. Rugby is a professional sport and a business these days … that doesnt mean the players in the national football or rugby team dont represent the country or that it is like a private football club. When you see players crying when they step onto the field and sing their national anthem it is obvious they regard playing for their country as the ultimate honour.

For a while Argentina did stick their heads in the sand … and that resulted in them prohibiting professional Argentinian players from playing for the Pumas and being beaten 93-8 against the All Blacks in 1997.

A couple of years ago the old farts also tried to prohibit Pampas XV players from playing domestic club rugby in Buenos Aires after playing in the Vodacom Cup, claiming it wasnt fair for professionals to play against amateurs,

Thankfullly those days seem to be over, and the UAR now seems to be run by people living in the 21st century. Moves like this allow Argentina to pay for its high performance programs and to stay competative, which is good for world rugby. Good on Argentina for innovating …

No, around 90% of recent Pumas players are now contracted domestrically in Argentina with the Jaguares Super Rugby team …. and the UAR has told players that in the future they will have to be playing for the Jaguares to be considered for Pumas selection .. although it is unclear if they will apply this from this year, as there are several players who have European contracts signed from before the Jaguares existed or have decided to continue playing in Europa.

Your idea that it is all some conspiracy theory by Pichot is tedious and repetative. The move was for economic reasons .. even the UAR have admitted this .. and you think a sporting body, audited by the government, was keeping money in secret offshore dollar accounts? There was a devaluation from the official rate to the blue rate, you had to get permission to change money at the official rate, but the UAR didnt really have the option of changing their money at the unofficial rate on the street did they?

“Económicamente nos conviene”, habían asegurado desde la UAR en enero cuando anunciaron el comienzo de las charlas y tratativas para el cambio de sede. En ese momento, mientras desde el plantel surgieron varias voces de protesta, los dirigentes explicaron que las utilidades que generan Los Pumas son las que utilizan para cubrir los costos del rugby profesional y amateur en Argentina y que, en ese aspecto, el aporte de la sede de los partidos es fundamental.”

“La mudanza le dejará a la UAR, seguramente, una ganancia mucho mayor -no trascendieron las cifras oficiales- de la que tendría si Los Pumas recibieran a Australia en Argentina.”

Primero tuvimos el aval de Australia y el viernes pasado conseguimos la autorización de la Sanzaar. Faltaría la aceptación de la unión inglesa [RFU], que no va a oponerse porque la interesa ocupar el estadio, y la aprobación final de World Rugby, que no debería oponerse”, añadió Carlos Araujo, el presidente de la Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR).

Exactly I first heard it suggested in December or January …

Thats the idea … the Argentine peso lost 50% of its value last December when currency controls were lifted … so the UAR was confronting a financial problem, with its moneyin the bank losing 50% of its value overnight.

The UAR also has the additional costs in 2016 of contracting 41 players for super rugby, plus paying for visiting super teams, as well as the Americas Rugby championship and its visiting teams .. plus normal costs of paying for Italy, France, the Springboks and NZ when they visit.

Last year the Wallabies game only attraced 25 000 fans … paying pesos … a game at Twickenham can attract at least 50 000 if not be a sellout … thus resolving Argentine rugbys short term financial woes.

Rubbish … the UAR actually asked for the game to be moved. Argentina isnt getting shafted, they asked for the move to solve their short term financial problem, as the Argentina peso has devalued 50% since last December, and this year they have additional costs of Super Rugby, not just travel and paying the costs of visiting teams, but contracting 41 players for 6 months, as well as the Americas Rugby Championship which has already been held.

This year Argentine fans can see half a dozen Super rugby games, with 90% of the Pumas squad playing, plus tests against Italy, France (twice), and the All Blacks and Springboks.

No one is getting shafted … the UAR is saving itself from financial problems.

Rubbish … the UAR actually asked for the game to be moved. Argentina isnt getting shafted, they asked for the move to solve their short term financial problem, as the Argentina peso has devalued 50% since last December, and this year they have additional costs of Super Rugby, not just travel and paying the costs of visiting teams, but contracting 41 players for 6 months, as well as the Americas Rugby Championship which has already been held.

This year Argentine fans can see half a dozen Super rugby games, with 90% of the Pumas squad playing, plus tests against Italy, France (twice), and the All Blacks and Springboks.

No one is getting shafted … the UAR is saving itself from financial problems.

The Argentine Rugby Union asked for the game to be moved to try to avoid having real financial problems this year after their currency devalued 50% since last December …

The money the union had saved therefore lost 50% of its value since December … a real problem when in 2016 the UAR has to fund additional costs, such as a 40 man super rugby squad plus super rugby travel, plus accomodation for visiting super rugby sides, plus its Americas Rugby Championship team and visiting Americas Rugby Championship teams, plus the normal costs for inbound test sides from France, Italy, South Africa, NZ and Australia.

It is a smart move as instead of getting 25 000 fans if they are lucky in Argentina .. they can get 50 000 fans or maybe even a sell out at Twickenham, paying in UK pounds .. solving their short term financial problem

The Argentine Rugby Union asked for the game to be moved to try to avoid having real financial problems this year after their currency devalued 50% since last December …

Laws created under the Kirchner government meant that Argentinians were not allowed to hold currency in dollars … all the revenue the UAR has gained form being part of the Rugby Championship and from doing well in the RWC therefore had to be converted into Argentine pesos … the money the union had saved therefore lost 50% of its value since December … a real problem when in 2016 the UAR has to fund additional costs, such as a 40 man super rugby squad plus super rugby travel, plus accomodation for visiting super rugby sides, plus its Americas Rugby Championship team and visiting Americas Rugby Championship teams, plus the normal costs for inbound test sides from France, Italy, South Africa, NZ and Australia.

It is a smart move as instead of getting 25 000 fans if they are lucky in Argentina .. they can get 50 000 fans or maybe even a sell out at Twickenham, paying in UK pounds .. solving their short term financial problem.

No, not at all … the Argentine Rugby Union asked for the game to be moved to try to avoid having real financial problems this year after their currency devalued 50% since last December …

Laws created under the Kirchner government meant that Argentinians were not allowed to hold currency in dollars … all the revenue the UAR has gained form being part of the Rugby Championship and from doing well in the RWC therefore had to be converted into Argentine pesos … the money the union had saved therefore lost 50% of its value since December … a real problem when in 2016 the UAR has to fund additional costs, such as a 40 man super rugby squad plus super rugby travel, plus accomodation for visiting super rugby sides, plus its Americas Rugby Championship team and visiting Americas Rugby Championship teams, plus the normal costs for inbound test sides from France, Italy, South Africa, NZ and Australia.

It is a smart move as instead of getting 25 000 fans if they are lucky in Argentina .. they can get 50 000 fans or maybe even a sell out at Twickenham, paying un UK pounds .. solving their short term financial problem.

For the uninformed crying blue murder … why dont you take a minute to actually check the fact .. it was Argentina theat suggested the move, and they did so precisely so they could earn some hard currency to be able to keep funding their elite teams. The move benefits Argentina, and they asked for it.

Argentina is facing an economic crisis with their currency having devalued 50% since the change in government and the end of currency controls last December. This means that all the money the UAR had in the bank lost 50% of its value overnight. Due to the policies of the Kirchner government Argentinians were not allowed to keep money in foreign accounts or in US dollar accounts in Argentina, so despite the extra revenue from playing in the RC and doing well in the World Cup … the UAR was facing real financial problems .. especially with the added costs of funding a super rugby team and an Americas Rugby Championship team this year. The devaluation of currency also means that test matches in Argentina this year will earn relatively little money for the UAR.

It was Argentina that actually suggested the move at the end of last year, following the economic and crowd success of their match against the Barbarians in London. While they have to pay for the stadium hire to use Twickenham, ticket prices in England, and the strength of the pound, mean that revenue is obviously going to be a lot higher from a game in England than a game in Argentina.

Apart from Argentinian fans, a Puma-Wallaby game in London will also attract Aussie expats as well as English rugby fans. The first rugby championship game between the Wallabies and Pumas in Argentina attracted 37 000 fans .. but since then the game has attracted 28, 26 and only 25 000 last year. A game at Twickenham involving these two teams could easily attract 40 or 50 000 if not more, again, contributing to the hard currency Argentina needs to continue funding its internional teams.

On top of this Argentinian fans this year have Super Rugby games, Rugby Championship games against NZ and South Africa, June tests against Italy and France (twice), the South American A Championship and America’s Rugby Championship games where they can also see mens rep teams, so it it hardly as if it denies local fans the chance to see their favourite players in action.

It is not some wicked plot by World Rugby or rich rugby nations to take games away from Argentina .. it wassomething asked for by Argentina to help them overcome a domestic financial crisis, and allow them not to go bankrupt and have to withdraw from Super Rugby, the TRC etc …

Yeah, this year they are still going to play the Sudamericano A .. which has the ARC teams plus Paraguay, in April/May … but I think with the success of the ARC they will ditch that next year, and put Paraguay in the Sudamericano B, which usually has Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It makes little sense for Chile, Uy, Brazil and Arg to play each other in Feb March, then again in April May, and Uruguay have already announced they will be fielding a B team in the Sudamericano A this year as their 1st team will be preparing for mid year tests.

The Suda B is usually played over 8 to 10 days in one country, whereas the A is held over a month in various locations, with one of the teams in a match always playing at home.

With the Suda B they dont really need an ARC B yet .. and the countries involved wouldnt be able to afford it anyway .. but a playoff with the last placed team in the ARC might be nice .. although I doubt any of the ARC teams would advocate that, and there is the problem that if you lose Brazil or Argentina or Canada or the US, the sponsorship money goes.

Anyway that is a bit hypothetical as the contracts for the ARC were signed with the current participants through until 2019 if I remember correctly.

Brazil have shown a huge improvement, and with their athletic talent, money and population, I think they will overtake Chile and Uruguay in the long term.

No, Paraguay is a lot poorer than Chile and Uruguay, and is actually the poorest South American country apart from Bolivia.

In terms of GDP per person Chile is the richest country in South America, followed by Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil .. Paraguay only has a third of the GDP per capita of the others, and a Soy and Cattle based economy with little domestic manufacturing and no mineral or oil resources which many other South American countries have.

Paraguay also usually figures amongst lists of countries with the most corruption in the world, and poorest educational and health standards.

There are about 25 rugby clubs here .. the sport is expanding as 10 years ago there were only 8 clubs, but it is dominated by old boy clubs of private schools in the capital, and rugby is unknown, and confused with American Football, by most Paraguayans.

ESPN broadcast the same signal in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (Southern Cone) … and the same in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela (Northern Cone), not sure about Chile, Peru and Bolivia, but Bolivia is a small country so probably takes the Souther Cone signal. They broadcast more rugby in the Southern Cone, but they still show some games in the North.

Yep, live in Paraguay and played more than 20 games for the Paraguayan Senior mens rugby team.