Import increase for Force

[The InnFORCEr]

Nick Taylor,
The West Australian
June 11, 2013, 7:10 am

Western Force will be able to recruit seven overseas imports if Australian Rugby Union powerbrokers agree to new concessions at their board meeting today.

The Force have been negotiating for an increase in their international quota for years and the news comes at a good time for the club that desperately needs more depth in key areas.

Several matches this season, including Sunday's 28-13 loss to a depleted Waratahs, highlighted that some players are not up to Super Rugby standard.

Force coach Michael Foley has a number of players coming out of contract this season and among his priorities are outside backs and tight-five forwards.

It is understood the club is in talks with a second-rower and prop, both from South Africa.

The Force are currently allowed three overseas players, either a marquee who has already qualified for another nation and two development players who could qualify for Australian selection under the IRB's three-year residency rule, or three development players.

Under the new rule change they would still only be allowed one marquee player and the ARU would ratify each signing.

The same overseas player allowance is expected to be given to the Melbourne Rebels.

Meanwhile, coach Robbie Deans added Force utility forward Hugh McMeniman to the Wallabies squad to face the British and Irish Lions. The rampaging ball-runner, nicknamed "Madness" because of his abrasive style, is heading for a Test recall five years after the last of his 21 appearances and three years after quitting Australian rugby for Japan.

His high work rate from either blindside flanker or second row put him among Australia's top performers before he fractured a shoulder against the Rebels that sidelined him for nine weeks.

He sent a scare through the Wallabies camp in his comeback against the Tahs on Sunday, limping after a first-half tackle, but he recovered to finish the game.

Foley said the selection was just reward.

"It is fantastic for Hugh," he said.

"There are one or two other players in Australian rugby who are close to him but none as outstanding."

Rising Force centre Kyle Godwin, 21, will have shoulder surgery this week and will not play in the last Force game at home against the ACT Brumbies in four weeks.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ase-for-force/

[PeterM]

Lets hope that this gets the green light and we can see some improvement in the fortunes of the force

[GAFFA]

i dont see this changing much. all we will be doing is signing players who aren’t good enough to get a contract with there clubs in the own country.

The ARU need to fix the contracting system and scrap top ups if they want the rebels and force to be competitive. Doing this will distribute the talent evenly across all teams.

[zed]

i dont see this changing much. all we will be doing is signing players who aren’t good enough to get a contract with there clubs in the own country.

Not necessarily. James Haskell left the UK to play for the Highlanders, purely because he wanted a change. And I'm sure there are lots of players in NZ that can't get a Super contract or aren't getting game time for their Super club, such as Alby Mathewson, that would be easily good enough to play and shine over here.

There aren't enough players in Australian to have 5 competitive S15 teams. 3 yes, 4 at a push, but not 5. We just don't have the player depth in this country that they do in NZ and SA. We need foreign players, whether we like it or not. At least in the short term.

[GAFFA]

Not necessarily. James Haskell left the UK to play for the Highlanders, purely because he wanted a change. And I'm sure there are lots of players in NZ that can't get a Super contract or aren't getting game time for their Super club, such as Alby Mathewson, that would be easily good enough to play and shine over here.

But we can only have 1 player who has played tests the other 6 have to be like Haywood or Sias who will be here to he developmed into Wallabies.

More Marquee players would help but thats not what we are getting.

[zed]

But we can only have 1 player who has played tests the other 6 have to be like Haywood or Sias who will be here to he developmed into Wallabies.

More Marquee players would help but thats not what we are getting.

Ah OK. Yeah forgot about that. It makes it more difficult, but I still think with some aggressive scouting we could pick up a few superstars in the making. Can we recruit players who have represented their country at junior level, but not played for the senior team?

[Gruffalo]

More of the same "not quite good enough" players isn't gonna help us. We need more international quality players. Once again the ARU are band aiding a gaping wound.
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[zimeric]

Can we recruit players who have represented their country at junior level, but not played for the senior team?

yes

[zed]

yes

In that case, I would have thought something like the Junior Rugby World Cup would be a great event to recruit some future internationals before they're capped by their respective countries. Maybe the Force need to think outside the box regarding their recruiting, instead of getting club players in from Sydney, look at younger foreign players. Yes they need to be developed, but we could bag ourselves a few bargains.

[PeterM]

How does rugby as a whole fair in comparison to to other codes at looking 'outside the box' namely looking at young men from other sporting codes who could be developed into good rugby players.

[zed]

How does rugby as a whole fair in comparison to to other codes at looking 'outside the box' namely looking at young men from other sporting codes who could be developed into good rugby players.

That's a good idea. WA has some great footy players would make pretty good rugby players I reckon. Nic Naitanui for example.

[PeterM]

I think there is a massive untapped market in Basket ball players and rowers to name but two sports I would go looking around at.

[MI5_Dog]

I've always said (to anyone who would or wouldn't listen) that the country towns of WA hold a huge untapped resource in potential rugby talent.
Think of the bloke who is a superstar on the AFL field for one of the country clubs that just won't get a look in for the weagles or dockers 'cause he's the wrong, size, shape, personallity etc

[welshrugbyfan]

It's a great idea, you've got talented players out there still who may not be what they used to be but are still better than some of the terrible players we've settled for now,

That big dirty South African lock Botha would be better than Sam bloody soft as butter Wykes.

Both the curly headed Welsh props would be good.

Jesus it won't bloody hurt to try something new for a change, stop knocking it before it gets off the ground.

Seven ex test players into the team at once would be gold, the local lads would play better just being around these guys.
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[Alison]

But we can only have 1 player who has played tests the other 6 have to be like Haywood or Sias who will be here to he developmed into Wallabies.

More Marquee players would help but thats not what we are getting.

I guess that counts David Smith out too. Damn shame.