Radical rugby evamp
Pacific bosses hit out at global plan ‘We might as well start playing league’ ABs captain joins chorus of disapproval
World Rugby’s proposed 12-team ‘World League’ is a cash grab that will be the ‘‘death of Pacific Island rugby’’, Pacific Island rugby bosses believe.
‘‘I would go as far as saying that,’’ Aayden Clarke, the chief executive officer of Pacific Rugby Players, told Stuff yesterday.
‘‘I’ve been in discussions with the three CEOs [of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga rugby] last night and we talked about the impact of this and one of them straight out said that ‘this will be death of Pacific Island Rugby’ and another discussion indicated that ‘we might as well start playing league’.’’
All Blacks captain Kieran Read was among those to express opposition to the proposal, citing concerns about player welfare and the integrity of matches.
World Rugby’s proposal essentially slices the game into the haves and have-nots by locking out the Pacific Island nations while inviting Japan and the USA to the top table based on their commercial clout.
The deal is thought to be for up to 12 years, effectively condemning the islands to the rugby wilderness.
Asked if it represented a betrayal of Pacific Island rugby, Clarke was unequivocal.
‘‘Definitely. Historically the islands have contributed hugely to the game across the world,’’ he said.
‘‘Looking forward, there are 18-year-old young Samoans, Tongans and Fijians now who will now be looking at ‘who do I make myself eligible for’ because if I play for my home country I will never play in the bright lights of Twickenham and possibly will never have the opportunity to play the All Blacks or Australia.’’
The Pacific Rugby Players represents more than 400 professional players globally and Clarke added that the proposed deal made a complete mockery of World Rugby’s recent move to extend the eligibility stand-down period from three years to five.
The International Rugby Players council, which comprises 40 senior figures representing a cross-section of the game (including captains of nine of the top 10 nations), spoke via conference call earlier this week and have presented a united front in their condemnation of WR’s proposed new competition.
Read, a member of the council, said: ‘‘We need to be very careful that we balance the commercial needs of the game with the player welfare needs and ensure the quality and integrity of matches meets expectations.’’
Other top players backed Read’s viewpoint.
International players’ president and Ireland star Jonathan Sexton said: ‘‘While players gave this idea a cautious welcome at the end of last year, it now seems like a commercial deal on the future of the game is being negotiated at a rapid pace with little consideration given to the important points we raised.’’
Added England skipper Owen Farrell: ‘‘Players are open to discussing a new global season, but [it] has to work with the club game in order to reduce conflict, deal with player release issues and make sure their welfare is looked after.
‘‘The proposal presented to us doesn’t seem to have considered this properly.’’
Not surprisingly, Samoa captain and council member Chris Vui was aghast at being shut out for such an extended period.
‘‘Our biggest issue has always been the ‘club v country’ factor. We feel that that a 12-year deal is not workable, particularly when it presents no hope of advancement.’’