Aussie Player Exodus

[Dismal Pillock]

There has been 5 or 6 schoolboys/U20s signed by French clubs year that I’m tracking

 

[Derpus]

I assume they just ignore this or find some very superficial workarounds. If you told me this rule had never been enforced I wouldn't be even mildly surprised.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don't think there is even any kind of penalty listed in the regulations. It relies on everyone acting in good faith, and it would be up to the French Union to police their clubs which will never happen.

 

[Major Tom]

I just read the Tom Decent article and Herbert does explain that is French clubs not France Rugby that’s the issue. It’s the JIFF rules that seem to be a driving factor of this.

 

[PhilClinton]

Isn’t there a bit of pot kettle black here?

The French clubs are just doing what our private school system has done with Pacific Islanders for the last 50 years?

 

[LeCheese]

While I don't necessarily disagree, at the very least, there's a pretty marked difference in the age and stage of development at which players have been 'poached' (with some exceptions, obviously).

 

[Major Tom]

Drawing a long bow there. People of pacific island heritage immigrate to Australia for a variety of reasons, mainly education and working opportunities. Are private schools flying to these islands and handing scholarships to kids? Pretty sure they’re not.

 

[PhilClinton]

Wait. Are you trolling here or being serious?

Because if you’re being serious, I’m about to blow your mind.

 

[Major Tom]

How did Churchie go about getting visesio kite in the first place? Did they fly to Brisbane via the pacific islands to hand him a scholarship did they.

 

[Sword of Justice]

not sure about that kid but some schools absolutely do that all the time. Making sure the kids can speak English isn’t that high on their priority list.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Before this slides into a good old Holy Thursday keyboard scrap there may be a difference of situation between NSW and QLD Schools here.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'd say there may be more PI recruitment in QLD than there seems to be in NSW. NSW on the other hand has the NRL piling kids into the system.

 

[Derpus]

Even the morally bankrupt world of Football has (enforced) rules around children.

 

[Highlander35]

You've got to wonder if it's genuine naivety or willful ignorance sometimes.

 

[Sword of Justice]

I’d be surprised if it differs. NRL is doing similar at certain schools here. I know for a fact that it’s the same in NZ. Tupou’s story is a little depressing on that front.

 

[Major Tom]

Are they piling in from PI because of schools or is it just immigration?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Before we all get too carried away, Uncle Sio Kite is current head coach of GPS, and father James Kite was club captain there 15 (?) years ago

The family has been part of Brisbane rugby for ages

 

[LeCheese]

This conversation isn't specific to him, and he was a bit of an odd example to raise (given the above).

While there is certainly a level of opacity around the bursary programs, it isn't amiss to suggest that many of these kids (and their families) who have recently immigrated to Australia would not be in a financial position to do so without assistance and assurances from schools / clubs.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I think Herbert does raise some good points in that article even if it does come off as a hypocritical winge. What are the actual "poaching rules"?

I don't have a problem with Tongan Thor signing a contract to move to Queensland as an 18 year old (or an Australian over 18 choosing to move to France)
Equally, I don't see what WR (World Rugby) could do about a private school offering a scholarship to a Pacific Islander. By all accounts the QRU/NSWRU or RA don't have anything to do with it, so how could it be stopped even if you wanted to? (I get that Fijian/Tongan/Samoans may feel differently about this).

It does feel a bit different when rugby clubs are approaching the manager's of 16 year olds, clearly offering something to get these kids to move to France.

Do we really want 14/15/16 year olds having their parents sign contracts with RA for them?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I’d be surprised if it differs. NRL is doing similar at certain schools here. I know for a fact that it’s the same in NZ. Tupou’s story is a little depressing on that front.

There's not much of it from a long time of being part of it and following it down here. I could name a couple of Schools who it's very clear they do it but it gets into the S word which is death penalty and causes inaudible guilt proving screechings of defence.

Malakai Fekitoa has a pretty similar story.

 

[Major Tom]

Before we all get too carried away, Uncle Sio Kite is current head coach of GPS, and father James Kite was club captain there 15 (?) years ago

The family has been part of Brisbane rugby for ages

Exactly my point.
I think what I’m mainly annoyed at is Aus rugby develop these kids and France pick them off before we’re able to showcase their talent. This is vastly different from Meafou who was basically not appreciated by our system and needed a change. I get going to France is a great experience and they’re immersed in a professional setting but I can’t see their academy comp being any better than hospital cup and Shute shield so they’re really being sold something we can’t compete with. Aus rugby would do well to have that connection between school or club and young player coming through.
It’s hard to do that when when we’re becoming a feeding system to France.
To diverge to another sport and illustrate my point better in afl the academy kids coming through for the GC suns are unreal. Those players coming through that system are going to drive so much interest and participation in that sport because those particular players will have an actual connections with thousands of kids through club and school. Way more than Gary Ablett jr or Karmichael Hunt did. And participation is booming down there.
World Rugby just needs to copy what FIFA do and wait until the kids are at least 18.