Time to limit number of dual-registered players - Biljon
JERSEY Reds’ Harvey Biljon is calling for new restrictions to be brought in around the number of dual-registered and loan players appearing in Championship team’s match-day squads.
The Jersey director of rugby feels there’s an imbalance in the league where teams such as London Scottish and Bedford Blues are using dual-registration arrangements to a point where it questions “the integrity of the clubs”.
London Scottish had 11 dual-registered players in their match-day 23 against Jersey last month, and have regularly gone into double figures this season due to their link ups with Harlequins, and Edinburgh and Glasgow via the SRU.
Meanwhile Bedford’s “strategic partnership” with Northampton Saints means their squad can fluctuant heavily week to week, and Biljon wants the issue factored into the regulations as part of the ongoing discussions for the future make-up of the top two tiers.
The ex-Barbarians, Wasps and Natal star told The Rugby Paper: “It’s difficult as we’ve got to find that balance in giving young players the opportunity to play, but also protecting the integrity of the clubs, so there’s a fine balance to be had.
“It’s something that needs to be considered in the new planning and the new landscape of what English rugby is going to look like with everything that’s going on with the Premiership and the Championship and the discussions for the next few seasons. It needs to be a key consideration in the bigger scheme of things as there is a real imbalance that needs to worked out.”
Previously RFU regulations restricted tier two clubs to 10 dual-registered players in their match-day squads.
This was increased in 2017 to allow “the large pool of young players in academies who are getting great coaching, strength and conditioning but are not getting enough competition to play on a regular basis, and give them opportunity”
The Rugby Paper understands there’s currently no restrictions within the men’s game this season, and a maximum of 15 players can be dual-registered in the women’s game between the Premier 15s and the second-tier, with the aim to narrow the gap in quality between the leagues.
Biljon understands the restraints some teams face and added: “Scottish had 11 players who aren’t fully with London Scottish, that are from either Harlequins or Edinburgh, the other weekend. From a preparation point of view and analysis on what you do, on the opposition and individuals, in all of those things it’s a real tough challenge.
“And they’re all quality players. That’s why they are involved with Quins or Edinburgh and they need to perform to get a place back in the Premiership or URC match day teams, so they are going all out and you could see that in our 24-22 win.
“We did try to focus on ourselves a bit more in the build up to Scottish but there’s always going to be something the opposition throw at you, and fair play they did it. They threw in a fantastic trick play at the right time in the game, which created some pressure, and although we got another score to stay ahead, it went down to the wire.
“From a spectators’ point of view it was nail-biting and exciting, from a coaching point of view, very different, a nightmare, but we’ve just tried to look at ourselves, the opportunities missed, what we could learn and how our own players can improve again. But it’s difficult with the imbalance.”
The RFU has been approached for comment.