To be fair, I don't think there is any racial aspect to peoples objections to Chase's inclusion in the England squad.

I'd prefer it but stuff it, beating the Aussies is beating the Aussies. You have to pick the best available if that happens to be a Kiwi who qualifies on residency then got for it.

I think there should be some leeway for players who have parents of different nationality. If a player picks England for example but has never represented them and has a french parent then he should be allowed to represent France.

Also young players who have emerging nations originality should be able to represent them before being picked for a more established nation but only at an World Cup Tournament.

at the end of the day rangi chase qualifies for england exactly the same way as the likes of karmichael hunt,petero civoniceva,willie mason for australia and nathan fien & brent webb for NZ

neither do I. Nor do I think there's any racial aspect to migration. I do think it would be totally of any sport not to recognise the fact that in the modern world people change their country of residence and / or nationality. Identity and alleigance are - and always have been fluid and complex

And while my comment was firmly tongue, I do think that people who set up their own rules on identity and allegiance and decide that other people (eg Rangi Chase) have to follow are displayimg a degree of narrow mindedness, and even arrogance.

The only rules that matter are the eligibility rules of the sport (and they're standard across all sports). Both Chase and the England management are within those rules (as is or was the case with, for example, Fa'asavalu, Brough, Henry Paul, Tuilagi, Vainakolo, John Barnes, Kevin Pieterson, Alan Lamb, Tony Greig, Basil D'Oliviera, Fiona May ... and countless others). It's a non-issue, exept for those who want it to be an issue.

good point! I think a bigger problem would have been if Chase had already represented NZ and done what Danny Brough did. That is something that needs to be looked at!

Widdop is English! He moved to Australia at 16, he played most of his junior rugby in England and went to school here.

I wonder what the reaction would be on here if, say, George Burgess decided to play for Australia in 2 years, thanks to the residency rules.

It's more of an issue, certainly. But the source of the problem lies on having national teams representing countries who scarcely have a domestic league (and certainly not a professional one) who have to rely on heritage players. It's an issue being partially addressed by RLIF requirements for a minimum no of players to come from a domestic comp (not sure if this applies only to 'emerging' countries?). But I don't think it will ever go away while you have what are clearly 1st, 2nd and even 3rd grade intertational teams

I can't see how on the one hand you can argue the case for more rep games, and more time with the elite squad because you want to expose your best young talent to top flight rugby - and then on the other hand deny them the chance when it comes around by picking players who, regardless of how English they suddenly feel, clearly aren't English, and aren't the players most fans would like to see getting a crack at the Aussies and Kiwis.

I just think this is a real shame. Sure, there's no scandal in it - nobody's breaking any rules. And great if you want to be English too. But the England team is the pinnacle of what we can offer our best young players. It's disappointing - I'm just not interested in seeing Chase, Cherry-wotsisface, or Heighington running around in an England shirt - any win would mean nothing to me. Even if Darren Lockyer wanted to play for England, what does that achieve, really?

Is Chase even eligible? When did he arrive in the UK, unless it was before the 4N finished in 2009 then he's not been here for the required three years?

But was developed as a professional Rugby League player in Australia and, as such, is a product of that countries junior development and not ours. He is not a product of English RL so, if you take the objections against Chase to their logical conclusions, should not be representing it either.

Joined Cas at the start of the 09 season.

He's been here for 2 years and 10 months then, and is not eligible. It would probably be a good idea for someone to inform the RFL of this, I would hate to see England get docked points and end up finishing below Wales.