SPORT The ‘ridiculous’ residency rules have to change, insists Martyn

WALES legend Martyn Williams has given his wholehearted backing to proposals to change the “ridiculous” residency rules in international rugby.

The RFU are calling for the qualification period to be increased from three to five years and have indicated they may impose their own five-year rule if it is not introduced world-wide.

France have already taken a strong stance by declaring they will stop selecting foreign-born players who qualify under the three-year residency rule.

World Rugby vice-chairman Agustín Pichot believes three years is too short, amid concerns it’s undermining the fabric of the international game and fuelling the player drain from the Pacific Islands.

There has also been criticism of countries such as Scotland and Ireland for targeting young “project” players from the southern hemisphere.

Among players to qualify on residency in recent years are England’s Fijian-born duo Nathan Hughes and Semesa Rokoduguni, while Ireland have capped South Africans CJ Stander and Richardt Strauss and Kiwi Jared Payne, with Scotland having their South Africans WP Nel and Josh Strauss. World Rugby is due to vote on the issue in May after launching a review involving consultation with 126 unions last November. Now former Wales and Lions flanker Williams (pictured) has added his voice to the debate, saying the current system makes a mockery of international rugby and must be changed. He would actually like to see the residency period extended to seven years, but would be happy for it go up to five as a start. “Call me an old romantic, but people grow up all their lives wanting to play for their country,” he said. “Then they can’t get in the team because someone who wasn’t quite good enough to play for the All Blacks, the Springboks or the Wallabies is picked ahead of them after being there for just three years. It doesn’t seem right for me. It’s ridiculous.

“Three years is such a short space of time. That’s one contract. If national teams are full of players not born or bred in the country and who don’t have any family link to the country, then it really devalues things. It makes a mockery of international rugby.

“If you are being honest, you are going to have some players who have no real affinity for a particular country, bar earning more money there.

“You’ve got the scenario now where countries are poaching project players and bringing them over specifically to qualify on residency. “It just doesn’t sit right with me. The 100-cap Williams believes World Rugby must act now to toughen the residency regulations.

“Three years is just ridiculously short,” he said. “I’ve got nothing against the players themselves, it’s the policy that’s wrong.

“The rules should have been changed years ago. It’s something the powers-that-be have to address. I would go even further and make it seven years, but five years would be a start.”