England Eligibility

[Soggypitch]

Interesting article by SCW in the Mail today.

Makes you think....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... gland.html

[ellis9]

Not really. It couldn't be much clearer could it?! If you want to play for England, you have to play in England. It's not that hard to understand!

[h's dad]

Not really. It couldn't be much clearer could it?! If you want to play for England, you have to play in England. It's not that hard to understand!

Well with Ben Te'o likely to pull on an England shirt before he runs out in an AP shirt it does seem to drive a coach and horses through much of the argument. Also you dismiss SCW's views with no regard at all - I think he deserves better than that whether you agree or disagree with him. Did you actually read the article?

[ellis9]

Yes I disagree with what he said and yes I read the article.

He questioned whether Te'o deserves to play for England over Steffon Armitage who played for 10 years in England. The answer is simple, yes he does. This is because the rule is you have to play in England to play for England. Ben Te'o has signed for an English club, Armitage hasn't, therefore Te'o can play for England and Armitage can't.

Why does me disagreeing with what SCW said mean I don't respect him?! I could be the biggest fan of SCW but it doesn't mean I would agree with everything he says.

[RagingBull]

If Armitage wanted to play for England so badly he would of moved to England by now

[h's dad]

Yes I disagree with what he said and yes I read the article.

He questioned whether Te'o deserves to play for England over Steffon Armitage who played for 10 years in England. The answer is simple, yes he does. This is because the rule is you have to play in England to play for England. Ben Te'o has signed for an English club, Armitage hasn't, therefore Te'o can play for England and Armitage can't.

Why does me disagreeing with what SCW said mean I don't respect him?! I could be the biggest fan of SCW but it doesn't mean I would agree with everything he says.

Ben Te'o has been selected for England while still playing for an overseas club and is likely to play for England before playing for an English club. Doesn't that strike you as even slightly ambiguous?
Also, your original summary of the selection criteria is, as I'm sure we both know, not strictly correct.

[ellis9]

Yes it is correct. I just didn't add the "exceptional circumstances" bit.

[h's dad]

Yes it is correct. I just didn't add the "exceptional circumstances" bit.

Don't you think that caveat makes a significant difference to your original statement?

[ellis9]

Well it's common knowledge isn't it?!

Anyway, when has the exceptional circumstances rule been used?

[Cagey Tiger]

To me there are two separate issues. I have a certain "difficulty" with the selection of Te'o, because of his playing history. As outlined eloquently by SCW, playing for England at Rugby Union has not been pursued until very recently.

As for Armitage et al, it isn't just a case of being released for training and games, the AP clubs also restrict their number of appearances (for a small consideration, on top of the small consideration they receive for players being unavailable during the international windows).

I doubt that the RFU would "compensate" a non-English club/region/province for the unavailability of an English player outside the international windows. The same goes for the other unions and their players playing "abroad".

I think that the ARU have come to a relatively reasonable compromise on this and would not have a problem with a similar scheme in England. I certainly think that adopting the free for all advocated by SCW would be a retrograde step in player welfare for England players.

[TigerCam]

I do not have any problem with who ever plays for England given the boundaries that have been set by other countries. If it is a matter of principle then that went out the window many moons ago. If Teo is good enough in EJ plan then so be it.

[Iain]

If Armitage wanted to play for England so badly he would of moved to England by now

It really is this simple.

[tigercaspian]

Agree with Cagey.........the guy hasn't played for a club in the Prem but he's about to pull on an England shirt.
Does it break the rules? Apparently not. Do I like it ? No, not one bit.
The words Sam and Burgess come to mind................Nurse, medication,quick!
Let's hope he doesn't screw up Wuss like Burgess did Bath.

[Roly]

Agree with Cagey.........the guy hasn't played for a club in the Prem but he's about to pull on an England shirt.
Does it break the rules? Apparently not. Do I like it ? No, not one bit.
The words Sam and Burgess come to mind................Nurse, medication,quick!
Let's hope he doesn't screw up Wuss like Burgess did Bath.

No, England screwed Burgess up, not his club. As a result of the screw up, Burgess had little choice (in his own mind) to abandon the club. He can hardly be blamed for ruining Bath's league chances....

[sapajo]

Agree with Cagey.........the guy hasn't played for a club in the Prem but he's about to pull on an England shirt.
Does it break the rules? Apparently not. Do I like it ? No, not one bit.
The words Sam and Burgess come to mind................Nurse, medication,quick!
Let's hope he doesn't screw up Wuss like Burgess did Bath.

No, England screwed Burgess up, not his club. As a result of the screw up, Burgess had little choice (in his own mind) to abandon the club. He can hardly be blamed for ruining Bath's league chances....

No one screwed Burgess up, he achieved his ambition to play in the World Cup and earn some decent dosh along the way. Mission accomplished he then returned to where he came from.