ARU may limit the recruits from league

Good News Really I think anyway if it's True.

Rupert Guinness
Friday, February 16, 2007

Super 14 officials suspect the Australian Rugby Union of secretly planning to limit the number of rugby league converts in each franchise.

The ARU has openly sought high-profile league players in recent years but may now try to regulate recruitment by limiting how far the states continue that drive independently.

It is thought the ARU wants to restrict a flood of league players, especially second-tier, who would not be of interest to it, even though the states may benefit.

"We haven't heard anything official, but it is where we believe that the ARU is heading to," a prominent Super 14 official told the Herald yesterday.

Pressed, ARU chief executive Gary Flowers denied there was such a plan but said the ARU would intervene if a state's recruitment drive was aimed at league players and at the cost of opportunity for its own ranks.


"If we felt that a province had gone directly towards the wholesale recruitment of league players when there is [union] talent there, we would want to sit down and talk to them about it," he said.

Flowers did not believe Australia's Super 14 teams would pursue league players en masse, saying the work the states had put into their academy programs would more than likely have them rely on developing players.

He also believes the path to Super 14 representation will be more open to players via the school and age group representative programs and the Australian Rugby Championship.

"By and large we believe the players will come through the development system, that more than 90 per cent will," he said.

But if a province focused on league players and failed to give the ARU a satisfactory reason, Flowers did not rule out the ARU reviewing its financing of that union.

But critics argue the ARU is discriminating against league players. "It shouldn't really matter if a player is from league, AFL or soccer. If they are good enough, they are good enough," a Super 14 insider said. "That [suspected ARU policy] means league players will be treated differently."

The ARU is not forecasting a flood of top-tier league converts such as Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri, who is on the top of many headhunters' wish lists in rugby union and league.

"We believe we will only see a small number, maybe three or five. Whatever number, it will be only a minor percentage," said Flowers, who added it was the states' prerogative to headhunt who they wanted, pointing to the Force's and Reds' recruitment of Ryan Cross and Clinton Schifcofske respectively from league.

"The Force needed an experienced professional footballer and an outside-centre," he said. "And at the Reds they needed an experienced back-up for Chris Latham, and that has proven to be a good move."

The ARU should not underestimate the will of the states to pursue league players, even if they are not seen as future Wallabies.

The Herald understands the states have recently received many expressions of interest from league players, some genuine, others aimed at increasing their market value. That market is expected to become even more open within the next month, especially in a World Cup year when many careers are on the cusp.

It is understood the ARU has booked contract reviews for up to 30 players during the next month. The Waratahs have up to 12 players whose contracts are up for renewal.


This story was found at: http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ar...405376308.html

Why would they bother ?

Can we start limiting the number of articles from this website - there is more sensationalistic tales on that website than coming from Anna Nicole’s paternity suits

Now that would be censorshipTQO, even though they may be guilty of sensationalism they still have information, and funnily enough it will inspire spirited debate 9 times out of 10 so i don't think we should restrict anything as we are all able to see what is bullsh*t and what isn't, but half the fun is arguing about it....

Agreed frontrow - but some of this stuff is unbelivable - if they can play well - let em play - this would just cause a massive bidding war for 3 or 4 players every year - madness

Absolutely agree with you there mate regarding bidding war, but we are talking about it, so i believe it has promoted discussion therefore it is relevant to a chat forum, wether we agree or not...So we shouldn't care where the stuff comes from, and if we do we can make our views known that we disagree with the content, and we can inform others regarding our views if we support the ideas...

Good post Nick - it's wound at least 2 people up - still don't like that site - won't until they acknowledge how well we have done - they do have an uncanny knack of exploiting the grain of truth in all their stories - really really hope this one is a dud

Well guys I try to view a few different sites really, I try to have a look at one or two SA sites a week I of course follow the NZ sites and have signed up to get info emailed to me that Im intrested about and of course I view a couple of local sites.

At the ned of the day you have to get as much info as possible from as many sources as possible and then sift...

As for restricting lower tier players form leauge I think it is just as bad or good as only letting players into Australian S14 teams if they are eligible for the wallabies - it means that there are huge amounts of resources that go begging - you learn a lot from the people you play with. It also doesn't hel;p the development of PI teams either.

I know Iknow another can of worms but letting one or two players per team that are not availble to play for Australia would I believe help develop the local teams and comp and also help non tier 1 countries players what difference would it make to the Warratahs if they had maybe a Fijian flyer out on the wing - how much would Lote be worth in comparison.

how much would it help PI nations if some of there players could play in Southern Hemisphere comps rather than Europe...

Having limited numbers of foreign players in both SA and NZ S14 teams hasn't hindered there development of depth...

...and we know how much the All Blacks depend on their islanders ;)

Ha ha for sure but NZ is a Polynesian nation you only have to go there once to see that I dont think it makes sense for Australia not be investing in this area...

It certainly wouldn't hurt, but Australia has there fair share of internaional flavour in thier teams but they have to become citizens which obviously hurts the smaller nations. I think it could be of a reciprocal nature. It works in NZ and SA.

Most of the league 'converts' are backs, who seem to be reverting back to league if AWalker,MRogers, WSailor (intended) and LTuqiri (possible) show. Recent acquisitions of RCross and Shifcoske show the sporadic nature of these conversions.

Rugby forwards are more important because of their specialist roles. I only know of the lock PRyan who had success, at the Brumbies after leaving the NRL Broncos.

The real point is to keep the juniors who play both rugbies channelled to a S14 team rather than an NRL team (4v16).

As for the PI players (on the topic?), Qld are best positioned to allow opportunities for them, but of course NZ is the main channel and beneficiary. Ideally PI would have a team in S14 but the logistics are frightening. Melbourne would be a good bet for S16 inclusion. Then we'd see the above article again!