Got moderated for comment below – just for pressing reply buttom. Funny things happening on keo.

Anyhow I’m out for a few hours. Public holiday – National Braai Day – I mean National Heritage Day – and catch the Province game.

@ Fantastic

I’ll leave you with pops.

Beast wants to play for a strong rugby playing country.

Nothing new.

We’re just playing for time until the CC kicks off in less than 2 hours from now.
There are 2 games on tonight.

if you look at the world today, many people from all walks of life migrate to other countries and then become citizens of said country..

Beast is a prime example… yet it seems NZ is the only country that comes under criticism for it, why is that?

Well, good on New Zealand. But there are also plenty Tongans and Fijians in New Zealand rugby circles.

But the article in question wasn’t addressing those issues. It is now open to any nationality to be considered. Some saffas have already represented Aussie Super franchises.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoan islands were split into two sections. The eastern islands became territories of the United States in 1904 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as Western Samoa (now the Independent State of Samoa), passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a UN trusteeship until independence in 1962.

At independence in 1962, Samoa signed a Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand. This treaty confirms the special relationship between the two countries and provides a framework for their interaction. Under the terms of the treaty, Samoa can request that New Zealand act as a channel of communication to governments and international organizations outside the immediate area of the Pacific islands. Samoa also can request defense assistance, which New Zealand is required to consider (Samoa does not maintain a formal military). Overall Samoa has strong links with New Zealand, where many Samoans now live and many others were educated.

so yep, we are only ever interested in the Islands for the rugby players we can poach…

But New Zealand has been doing this for years.

Just check out the last couple of paragraphs. You’d swear Tonga or Samoa are somehow provinces of New Zealand. After a couple of years residence in New Zealand, they will then qualify for the Ab’s.

“Pacific Island players are not treated as foreign players under this policy.

The existing approach to the contracting of Pacific Islands players, whereby players from the Pacific Islands who are not eligible to play for New Zealand may be contracted to play for New Zealand franchises if no equivalent New Zealand eligible player is available, remains.

This recognises the special relationship that exists with the Pacific Islands and the contribution that Pacific Island players have made to Super Rugby.”

they’ll
also try
to recruit
all the
bulls
that
retire after
rwc 2011

they
will try
anything
to beat
the bulls

They are hoping Argentine players will come to play S15 Transie.

It is considered that with Argentina not involved in S15, then it will be very difficult for them to put a competitive Team in the revamped 4Nations.

September 24, 2010 – 5:51PM

New Zealand will allow its five Super 15
rugby clubs to field two overseas players
next season, ending a 15-year restriction
which stopped teams from choosing
players not eligible for the national team.

The New Zealand Rugby Union board
approved the new policy on Friday but left
restrictions in place on how foreign players
can be used.

There are still recruitment regulations on
New Zealand teams, including rules that no
more than one foreign player can play in a
specialist position such as hooker or
scrumhalf.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says the
rule seeks to strike a balance between
maintaining New Zealand’s depth and
strength while ensuring Super rugby “is the
best international competition in the world.”

that’s
a given