International eligibility rules have changed and for the better for mine, making it much easier for players to switch between nations. www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/kangaro ... fce0002bc9

International eligibility rules have changed and for the better for mine, making it much easier for players to switch between nations. www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/kangaro ... fce0002bc9

Seeing your greatest ever Great Britain team, I am quite relieved you think this is a good idea.

It's not a good idea long term but it's better than what we have now, which is some players switching backwards and forwards between nations and others seemingly not being allowed to, players sitting out matches for unknown reasons or because they think they might play Origin in the future and generally nobody knowing what the hell is going on.

Players shouldn't switch nations full stop, what the hell are you on about?

The real problem is the pay gap between the top 3 countries and all the others.
To make the WC a bit of a contest, the pay scale for players should be set and payed by the WC organisers, so that Jarryd Hayne can be payed the same for playing for Fiji as he would be for Australia - or a better example, Joey Leilua, a very proud Samoan who was their best player in the last 4 nations, will not have to become a half committed Australian in the next WC because the money is too good to pass up.
Instead of Australian players getting $20k per game and Fijian players getting $500 per game, the pay scale should be NRL and ESL players getting something like $5k per game, with a sliding scale for levels of experience.
If this weakens the big 3 and strengthens all the other sides - good. That will make the WC competitive.

My feelings also.

How is this a good idea? the aim should be to make tier 2 nations stronger by players choosing them and staying with them. Australia and NZ already have a huge pool of players to pick from and the pacific players always bang on about the pride of pulling on a Tonga, Samoa etc.. shirt so why can't they pick those sides and stick with them? make them a force long term which is what the game is crying out for. Still allow them to play SOO.

switching between nations is a farce imo.

Well it proves that money rules the world not I am proud to play for the country of my birth its how much do you pay

The second tier nations will never attract the top players until we have a proper international calendar. The only competitions worth playing in are the WC and 4 nations, there are only 3 teams who are guaranteed to play in both. If a player looks at the fixtures and has the option to play for their country of birth in a few 'friendlies' and a WC every 4 years or to adopt Australia/NZ and play in several 4 nations and the WC combined with more money it's a bit of a no brainier.

We need something along the lines on an annual 5 nations with England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales & France played throughout the season. At the same time a Southern Hemisphere version with Australia, NZ, PNG, Samoa & Fiji combined with a WC and end of season tours.

As pointed out here before, it should be once you have played for a country at senior level you should be made to stick with that country.
This switching of countries does the game no good what so ever

Meanwhile, in the real world, it's been tried over and over, and everytime you force young players to commit to a country, they choose Australia.
The classic example - Aku Uate committed to Australia less than a year after arriving in the country and before he could speak English.
"Aussie" Semi Radradra still lives Fiji and can't speak more than a few words of English.

The new 5 year rule will help.
The big problem in Australia at the moment is falling junior playing numbers in Rugby League and the debt of some NRL clubs despite them getting a mega bucks TV deal.

The heart says that a player should only play internationals for the country of their birth....


But the head says why deny a player the opportunity to play at top international level (tier 1) just because they were born in a country where RL hasn't yet fully developed (tier 2).

I've always hated this whole switching countries mentality. Using Rangi Chase playing for England as an example, what message does that send to young English lads growing up playing RL? You could be the best English half, but if we can get some bloke who's not good enough to play for his own country, you haven't got a shot. Great. Fantastic message to send.

Playing for your country should be for the pride of pulling on that shirt ahead of thousands of eager lads (or lasses) who would give everything to do the same. Not how much you're going to be paid or what team you can work your way into. If we allow players to continue swapping countries how much damage are we doing to that sense of pride in the shirt, the badge and the achievement? I'd rather have an average English lad pull on the shirt than an excellent Aussie who's just not quite good enough to pull on the green and gold. Every day of the week.

Once you've declared for a country, there should be no circumstance in which you're allowed to switch, IMO.

Indeed, to change your nationality, just to play international sport just make someone a mercenary, playing only for financial reward.
I know that lots of sports and many different nations allow it but, it doesn't make it right.

Once a person has represented their country (at any level) that should be it, no changing.