Why aren't overseas players considered for Springboks?

Luke7777 said:
No rule against it, coach's choice IMO. Remember Jake picking Jaco vd Westhuizen (while playing in Japan) and Andre Snyman IIRC ?
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If there is no rule against, then why does the media refer to it as players being lost to SA rugby? Strange, I mean rugby will have to come to the realisation that top SA talent will follow money overseas, just like soccer and cricket. If it is up to the coaches, then they need to catch a wake up quick!
 
sox63 said:
If there is no rule against, then why does the media refer to it as players being lost to SA rugby? Strange, I mean rugby will have to come to the realisation that top SA talent will follow money overseas, just like soccer and cricket. If it is up to the coaches, then they need to catch a wake up quick!
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Perhaps because they're lost to local teams and tournaments like the super-14?
 
bwana said:
Perhaps because they're lost to local teams and tournaments like the super-14?
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Then the headlines should be "Local teams can't afford top talent":D

Sad to see it happen in rugby as well. I can already see the "Club vs Country" battle happening already.:(
 
iirc it used to be a policy that if you played overseas you weren't eligible to play for the Boks. Jake changed that i think.

Part of the reasoning was that it created the potential for clashes as the European clubs play round about the same time as our international season. Something like that in any event.
 
I know Aus policy is (and I wish SA would adopt it too) if you are not eligible for your local rugby you are not eligible for National selection.
 
I know that the European clubs do not release the players to come back and play for the Boks when required.

The clubs say that the player has got a contract with them and thus first has to complete all contractual obligations before he can return and play for his national team.

That has resulted in players not available for the Boks when they were needed and thus the rule was made that if a player plays rugby in Europe he will not be selected for the national side.

I think it is a good rule...

If I am not mistaken, Jake has made an exception with regards to Jaco vd Westhuizen because he had a problem on fullback and Jaco was his only option.

With regards to "Club vs Country" debakel...the IRB will hold meetings within a week or so after the the RWC final to try and stop what happened on the English, French, Wales and Italian tours... Hopefully this won't happen again!
 
Butch and Percy might be leaving to go play overseas next year :(.
 
alanf85 said:
Butch and Percy might be leaving to go play overseas next year :(.
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Judging by how Butch played the last two weeks and some part in the S14, that won't be a loss.

Percy is doing that because he know he won't be selected for the Boks next year...

So, no loss really...
 
MielieSpoor said:
I know that the European clubs do not release the players to come back and play for the Boks when required.

The clubs say that the player has got a contract with them and thus first has to complete all contractual obligations before he can return and play for his national team.

That has resulted in players not available for the Boks when they were needed and thus the rule was made that if a player plays rugby in Europe he will not be selected for the national side.

I think it is a good rule...

If I am not mistaken, Jake has made an exception with regards to Jaco vd Westhuizen because he had a problem on fullback and Jaco was his only option.

With regards to "Club vs Country" debakel...the IRB will hold meetings within a week or so after the the RWC final to try and stop what happened on the English, French, Wales and Italian tours... Hopefully this won't happen again!
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Sounds like a reasonable explanation, thanks.

However, if Rugby is to become the Global game it wants to be, then the IRB needs to step and play a "FIFA-type" role in scheduling of international games and events. They need to designate when International game days/weeks or when there is a tournament, that teams must release their players to play for their countries. I'm not saying that it works beutifully in soccer, but at least the rules are there and it up to the players and their clubs to release them.

If not, there will be a situation where SA unions can't match the salaries of European teams and the players can't resist that, they should not resist such offers. It's not like they have a long shelf life.
 
MielieSpoor said:
Judging by how Butch played the last two weeks and some part in the S14, that won't be a loss.

Percy is doing that because he know he won't be selected for the Boks next year...

So, no loss really...
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Yeah there is good enough cover ;)
 
Well so far the list is Smit, Percy, Schalk, Matfield and Butch.
 
yeah, please can somebody buy percy? i mean the man has the best looking wife i have ever seen but that last kick in the super 14 finals ( never mind his all round performance that day) left me quite soured towards him:sick:
 
But why do local players need to go and play for international clubs if the South African clubs are already among the best in the world. And we can't say the same about local soccer and cricket clubs :D
 
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