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I think clubs are only obligated to ensure that they are available for International training from 5 days before the test match.

It's not excruciatingly difficult to go back to a variation on the Pro14 model. schedule. Retain the existing shields, and add "Conferences" with 2 RSA, 2 IRE, 1 SCO, 1 ITA each. Double ups against 7 teams (the 3 teams in your shield, plus the other 4 in your conference) for 14 games, one offs...

That would be an interesting outcome as the game seems to fall outside the window. Good for Tonga and good on Bordeaux if true. It "should" be a moot process given the weakness of Canada/Similar but given the PNC (Pacific Nations Cup) this year is the qualifiers for RWC27 it's important that they get a good team out...

Re: Junior clubs and such. My recollection from the last year of Junior sport I played was that everything was tracked pretty digitally for a combination of insurance purposes, which age grade you were eligible to be participating in etc. , and that was 15 years ago, give or take a couple of...

That was crazy to watch live. White and Foley must have been the only 2 people in the stadium who couldn't tell that he was going to make that call.

Given your previous advocacy for exclusively performance based contracts AND a simultaneous domestic selection policy, despite the global and multi code factors affecting the sport, I would suggest that you opt out of contributing to this sort of discussion, lest you continue to embarrass...

Are you presenting an argument in good faith or not? We're not talking about the Nick Jooste journeymen or the talented but unestablished Vaihu's here for whom uncertainty is part of the set of conditions you get to keep playing Rugby professionally. The vast majority of that contracted core...

Putting aside all the other nonsense, it doesn't sound like extensions are forthcoming for anybody: just the establishment looking to take over existing 2nd or 3rd year of deals. Can't possibly imagine why a player would perhaps think that moving to new city which is more expensive to live the...

Most of the time you don't think about someone's age on here unless they specifically mention a life or rugby experience or some other context like kids or uni brings it up. But you can smell the gammon on that post.

Are A fixtures counted as full internationals for the purpose of Club releases?

It's an interesting position to be in. It probably makes sense for both in this coming year, but it's difficult to see someone in France not offering Tupou big bucks. And even if you take money out of the equation the Tahs is a weird place for Kailea to be, the Tahs having two internally highly...

Members Section is disappointed Talataiana seems to have ended up at the Tahs.

Hope he has a good run and picks up an MLR deal or similar. Played his role well when asked.

What are you smoking Tom, He's not a late developing prop, he's not a puppy fatted man monster at 22, he's not the next great U20s back, he's a (turning) 25 year old, well established Super Rugby starter with a dozen international caps under his belt, but hasn't cemented a regular squad...

Glad to see Gibbo's got himself something sorted. He looked to be in no man's land a little bit with Kailea leapfrogging him for both the Rebels starter jersey and that "not Slipper and Bell" Wallabies Loosehead Group.

From Debut (inclusive of debut): 2/4 in 2021 Rugby Championship (Misses Home to RSA and away to Argentina) 4/4 in 2021 EOYT 3/3 in 2022 July Internationals 4/5 in 2022 Rugby Championship (Misses away to Argentina) Ruptured Achilles in MCG Bledisloe- Misses Last Game of RC, 2022 EOYT and 2023...

I may be misremembering, but I feel that both Rennie and Jones have selected Leota in pretty much every test he's been available for from debut. He must be doing something right.

I don't necessarily agree with Wilson's point, but I think his concern is less for the Japans and Scotlands of the world and more for the next tier down, expanding to 16 it means that a team at the quality of Netherlands, Portugal, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, Kenya etc. will be promoted to the...

There's always compromises to be made. At the moment that compromise is made for logistics and high performance reasons. I think if it's "sustainable" financially and logistically to run a 16 team comp, I think accepting that two of the teams who are involved likely to be off the pace of the...

While I probably prefer the 12 team tournament at Under 20s from a logistics point of view, I think it's only a matter of time before 16 is inevitable from a competition and growth perspective. Scotland, Japan, USA and Uruguay are not sufficiently worse to the point that the quality of the...