Rugby boss hits out at switching of allegiance
Agustin Pichot, the vice-chairman of World Rugby, has criticised England’s decision to pick New Zealand-born Brad Shields, claiming that the “game is losing something” by the selection.
Pichot, who has been a passionate advocate for national sides picking only players who have been born and raised in their country, spoke out after Shields was pictured in his England shirt for the first time after joining Eddie Jones’ side in South Africa.
Broadcaster Keith Quinn posted the headshot of Shields on Twitter, asking: “Is this a sad picture? I think so — what about you?”
Pichot, the former Argentina halfback and captain, replied: “
(‘something’s missing’ in English). We are losing something . . . the game is losing something . . .”
Shields qualifies for England through his parents, both of whom emigrated to New Zealand in their childhood, but Pichot went further by suggesting parentage should not be considered sufficient criteria to play for a country where you have not lived.
Responding to the suggestion by Stuart Barnes, the former England first-five, that Shields’ selection was not dissimilar to Pacific Island players representing the All Blacks, Pichot said: “Two things wrong don’t make one right. Still think [regulations can say another thing] it depends in each case and how many years you have lived and love the country and jersey you are representing. [How] can we measure that? By parents? Grandparents? Years? Very difficult. I have my personal opinion.”
Pichot’s comments are likely to cause embarrassment to the RFU, with the governing body already under fire for selecting Shields before he joins Wasps next season. England eligibility rules say Jones can only select players based in England but Shields is yet to play a game in the Premiership.
Shields also represented New Zealand Under-20s when they defeated England to win the World Championship in 2011, playing against six of his new team-mates on this tour in George Ford, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Mako Vunipola, Joe Launchbury and Dan Robson.
It is not the first time Pichot, who was one of the key campaigners for World Rugby’s decision last year to extend the qualifying period from three to five years, has spoken out about the increasing trend for players to represent.
“When you have players who haven’t lived in the country that they represent, it’s not great,” said Pichot, when he was appointed as World Rugby vice-chairman in 2016.