This daft rule doesn't apply in other sports so why RL allows it I don't know. In football you can switch allegiance after playing up to under 21 level or a first team friendly but once you play a single competitive match for a senior international side (as Ben Harrison has for Ireland) you cannot switch.

I don't know the rules in cricket but how much of a national scandal would it cause if Kevin Pietersen decided now that he fancies playing for South Africa after all and bins England off? I don't think the national media or cricket fans would take too kindly to that and would rightly regard every appearance he has previously made for England as a national insult, but if an RL player does it then he will be breaking no rules. Ridiculous.

Ridiculous it may seem but as Yed say's rules are rules.

I agree with you big fella.

Have you heard of Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan?

That's him stumped.

Didn't think either of them were wicket keepers ?

One thing this thread does show is the stupidity of doing away with a Great Britain team.

Your right there

Another RLFans thread where a few knuckledraggers have to make it about football.

The rule should be that you can only play for one country, no switching. However, they're not that, and Harrison/Bridge agreed to play for Ireland knowing they could go back. To then tell them they can't play for England is moving the goalposts.

the england cricket team is the new south africa team

Kieswetter
Strauss
Pieterson
Trott

anyways for me as much as i rate ben harrison i dont think he should play for england , where exactly would he play ?

A good interchange prop, interchange SR.

He's one for the future without question but the pack is easily England's strongest asset at present and the front row especially pretty much picks itself when everyone's fit

Haha no, but a quick Google search just told me who they are. I shouldn't have used cricket as an example because I don't know the first thing about the game or the players, I just know Pietersen because he's so high profile but for all I know he could have played for South Africa then switched to England.

I still think it's a bad rule though and an insult to your "fellow countrymen" that you choose to represent then turn your back on when it suits.

I also agree with the comment above about the Great Britain (and Ireland) team. I know the RFL want to increase interest in Scotland, Ireland and especially Wales but emerging nations tournaments featuring them and England 'A' were a good way to do this while allowing GB and I to take on the Aussies and Kiwis. By all means break it up 10-15 years down the line if/when Crusaders and any other exapansion teams have developed enough players for a strong Wales side to genuinely compete with England (if they ever do) but it was absolutely done far too early.

Maybe develop enough Welsh players to play for Crusaders first maybe

Breaking up GB&I was all about getting funding from Sport England.