Pichot is picking on wrong target in Shields

AGUSTIN Pichot wants to make the eligibility laws in rugby more stringent, so more power to his elbow. They are an almighty mess almost entirely due to the ridiculous three-year residency rule approved by the self-serving Tier 1 nations. The extension to five years in 2020 will be a step in the right direction but it does not go anywhere near far enough. Extending that period is where Pichot, as World Rugby vice-president should be concentrating his attentions first, rather than firing a broadside at Brad Shields, who is New Zealand raised but born to English parents – who have returned to live in England. Pichot described a photo of Hurricanes back rower Shields in England gear as “a sad picture”, and added, “the game is losing something”. However, Argentina, Pichot’s own Union, and Italy have had a ‘flexible’ eligibility gangway for decades. It’s interesting that although Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse (who has Italian parents) both lived in Argentina until they were 20, they were capped by Italy only a year after joining Italian clubs. Both moved on to clubs elsewhere in Europe for a large tranche of their Italy careers, Parisse to Stade Francais and Catrogiovanni to Leicester. Who is to say whether Shields will go on to play for Wasps, or other English clubs, longer than Parisse and Castrogiovanni played for their Italian clubs? Two Pumas of earlier generations, Patricio Noriega and Enrique ‘Topo’ Rodriguez, managed to play international rugby for Argentina and were then ‘captured’ by Australia. So, Argentina have played fast and loose at the eligibility game at times, just like every other nation. Pichot should ensure that as a World Rugby official he is not partial about who he criticises.