RESIDENCY LAW IS CHANGED

WORD RUGBY’S EXECUTIVE council has bowed to pressure and agreed to change the qualifying period for eligibility through residency from three years to five.

The amendment was voted for by World Rugby’s executive council at a recent meeting in Kyoto and came about after support to change things became overwhelming.

At the core of the decision to make the change was the growing unease that was developing in relation to socalled project players. A number of countries have used their national governing body to work in tandem with clubs to recruit overseas players that have been identified as possibly filling a national vacancy in time.

Scotland did this with South Africans Josh Strauss and WP Nel, bringing both men over in 2012 with a view to picking them in their World Cup squad. They did just that, with both men earning selection despite not actually qualifying for eligibility until a week after the tournament kicked o .

Ireland have done the same with Jared Payne, picking the former Blues utility back in 2011 as a possible successor to Brian O’Driscoll.

With increasing numbers of players winning test caps through the residency route, World Rugby deputy chairman Agustin Pichot made eligibility one of his priorities to change when he came into the job last year and he was delighted to see the members agree.

“This is an historic moment for the sport and a great step towards protecting the integrity, ethos and stature of international rugby,” said Pichot.

“National team representation is the reward for devoting your career, your rugby life, to your nation and these amendments will ensure that the international arena is full of players devoted to their nation, who got there on merit.”

The new ruling won’t come into e ect until 2020.