Even without Rangi we are in a far better position than we were for the 2008 WC. I'd rather see Lomax/Widdop/Brough in the halves before Rangi, I just dont see the point when we already have those players at our disposal. Hes a great player but if he is our main weapon and we end up winning things because of him, to me it just wont feel like an England win.

If Chase going over for a winning try against the Aussies in the Four nations final I for one won't be thinking ' I'm not cheering that kiwi'. I'll be jumping around thinking I've just seen is beat the Aussies to a trophy for the first time in my life.

As pointed out guys like Pietersen do have English heritage but he's South African let's be honest. Didn't stop me taking my TV in to work back in 2005 to cheer him on as he kept the Aussies at bay and won us back the ashes.

This is the way sport has gone and were not big enough or good enough to be left behind. The Aussies have been doing this for years as already pointed out. They've selected plenty of South Sea islanders over the years even though they're surely good enough not to have to bother. We definitely aren't good enough to have the attitude that 'it's just not right'.

He's Scottish isn't he?

No, he was born in Dewsbury

I think you know what I'm getting at.

Yep exactly, Its just like the Chase situation, because he wasnt good enough for England he opted for Scotland. Now hes good enough for England hes opted for us. Just like Rangi will do if NZ decide he is good enough for them.

Some of these rules are truly awful and this is one. How can they deem Chase to play for England/GB ?

I mean, I think Pat Richards is a 'points machine', but would I want him to play for England ? Well yes indeed, but for me he can't.

we've got to play widdop in the halves so im guessing brough may be the one to miss out, unless mcnamara is going to be completely clueless and move widdop to the centres!

JOKE why does thr RFL go done this route selecting somebody on the resident rule, In my honest opinion i would have gaskell and lomax at 6 and 7 for england its worked wonders at saints and showed ours up big time twice in three weeks harsh but fair.

Widdop is better than Chase anyway, so unless Widdop is going to play 7, with Rangi at 6 then I don't think he'll be starting.
Although half back pairing of Chase and Widdop does sound pretty good. Even if he isn't English.
Uate has been picked by Australia, and he's from Fiji(?) just like Moimoi (Tonga) for NZ, the list is endless for NZ and Aus, so it's not like we're cheating or anything.

tbh although a player qualifies on residency........i would make a stipulation that players must hold a UK passport before they are considered for a UK country

Yep. Me too.

Like I said, I have no issues with people playing for England if they deem themselves to be just that. Rangi Chase imho does not (although in his interview he seems too, but he has also said he wants to play for NZ)

Much like the England Cricket Team with Trott, Pietersen and Strauss - when you're winning Test series you don't care where the players were born.

I seen on SSN before a reporter ask Wellens what he thought and he looked ready to smack the reporter

He wasnt too chuffed about the call up

Good on him. It's a joke.

I don't know why 'England fans' are so bothered about this.

"He could be taking away the place of a talented young English player blah blah"

When Sam Tomkins played for England everybody booed him anyway.

If I was a professional RL player in the England set up I'd just 'retire' from international rugby to 'concentrate on my club commitments'. International RL is a joke so the players shouldn't demean themselves by wasting time they could be recovering from injuries in the off season.

If what I've been told by a Cas fan is correct, Rangi Chase has been chosen in the England squad by the RFL, while at the same time Castleford have to count him on their overseas quota under RFL rules. Only in RL.

Definitely non fed trained so i'm sure he'll be quota, even if not the "overseas" one.

But surely being in the England squad should trump that???

Rangi Chase is a good player but for him to be included in the England set up is ridiculous. His only claim is three years residency living in Castleford, he even has a Kiwi passport.

He was born in Dannevirke New Zealand and has no UK heritage. He represented the NZ Maoris in 2008 and 2010, the NZ 'A' team, and he got picked for the Exiles against England.

A couple of months ago he gave an interview to the NZ Herald saying it was dream of his to pull on the black and white jersey and a good performance in the Exiles match might swing it for him. He has soon changed his tune.

A player who has shown no ambition twice within a week.

Now that's something!

Could Gareth Thomas's proposed signing for Wigan be a cunning plan to make him available for England. After all Bananna likes to pick fresh young English talent .

The RFL need to give Lockyer a ring he's not upto much next year maybe he fancies a few games. He's been playing against & spanking England/GB for dogs years so surely he somehow qualifies.

Someone just told me they've asked Willie Manu aswell the RFL must have just sent a worldwide email to every RL player from the sounds of it.

Super League stars are so far behind the Ozzies, (and they're not even the best team in the world). It gets a bit boring watching the Kiwis and the Ozzies stuffing us year after year, we even got beat by the "unwanted Ozzies this year". Until we start making outselves competative, then we will fail to be a credible sport in this country. So in order to put ourselves in the shop window in the UK, we need to start competing, if that means employing mercenaries (sorry exiles) then thats what we need to do. Oh and did I mention 58+ years.

Startling isnt it. Easy now to see why he didnt make it in the NRL. #comfortzone