Ritchie snubs French model

ENGLAND have rejected calls to follow France’s lead and stop picking overseas players who qualify only through residency.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has stopped short of embracing the tough stance of French Federation boss Bernard Laporte but instead given Twickenham’s backing to a proposal to extend the qualification period for adopted players from three to five years.

“Would you disadvantage yourself from the current three-year rule?” said Ritchie. “What Bernard does with France is a matter for him but our view will be that a five-year qualification is the optimum position.

“Like the French, we have a large playing base so some people will say we can afford to be hard line on this particular issue.

“We’ll see how that debate goes. If it stays at three then we’d have to think again and review it.”

Laporte’s directive is not retrospective so players such as New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio, South Africaborn full-back Scott Spedding and Fiji-born wings Noa Nakaitaci and Virimi Vakatawa were named in their 32-man Six Nations squad yesterday, but future call-ups will require a French passport.

Coach Guy Noves, whose side face England on February 4, included Northampton No8 Louis Picamoles but there was no place for Leicester-bound Maxime Mermoz or Mathieu Bastareaud.

Scotland yesterday called up Cornell du Preez, a South African back row who has qualified on residency after three years at Edinburgh, to their Six Nations squad.

Du Preez, 25, joins Edinburgh’s Kiwi prop Simon Berghan – who qualifies through his grandfather – as the new faces in Vern Cotter’s 37-man squad.

Englishman Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic sevens gold, will work with the Welsh Rugby Union as a consultant on the age group, sevens and women’s teams.

Toulon’s strength and conditioning coach Paul Stridgeon, Rhodri Bown, Wales’ head analyst, and Ireland’s Eanna Falvey, head of medical, are joining Warren Gatland’s Lions management team for the New Zealand tour.

RITCHIE: Rule change