Bristol Bears' Charles Piutau during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Bristol Bears at Twickenham. Photo / Getty Images.
Bristol Bears' Charles Piutau during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Bristol Bears at Twickenham. Photo / Getty Images.
OPINION:
Well, that was… a little surprising?
World Rugby, largely lampooned in these southern parts as an out-of-touch and self-centered organisation which has forever pandered to the whims and interests of the north, and in particular the wealthy northern unions, has finally done the right thing and changed the eligibilitylaws for players, therefore boosting the potential of Pacific Island nations, in particular, at World Cups.
The anticipation levels towards the 2023 edition in France, already building considerably after the Tricolours' recent comprehensive 40-25 victory over the All Blacks in Paris, has gone to even higher levels after the announcement overnight that capped players with definite links to a second nation, may play for that nation after a three-year stand-down.
You've probably already read the names of the former All Blacks that may now come into the frame for Samoa and Tonga, in particular: Vaea Fifita, Charles Piutau, George Moala, Steven Luatua, Malakai Fekitoa and others. Controversial former Wallaby Israel Folau may soon represent Tonga.
Even current All Blacks may be reassessing what their future looks like. Loose forward Ardie Savea, who captained the All Blacks this year in the absence of Sam Cane and Sam Whitelock, has made no secret of his wish to contribute in some meaningful way to Samoa, and, given Savea is only 28 and yet again proved himself in 2021 as one of the best players in New Zealand, his outspoken desire to do so may cause the national administrators' nerves to flutter ever so slightly.
Ardie Savea of the All Blacks celebrates scoring a try during The Rugby Championship match between the South Africa Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images.
The developments have come about through perseverance from many but in particular Dan Leo, the Pacific Players' Welfare chief executive, who has worked tirelessly on the issue, and also World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, who pledged during the run up to his election last year to push for the change and, to his credit, has done so.
The motion was voted on by World Rugby's council and required a 75 per cent majority, but Beaumont helped to show the way through the mass of vested interests, including the potential for the Tier 1 nations to face much stiffer opposition from Manu Samoa and Tonga in France in 2023 and indeed, as is even more likely, in Australia in 2027. Tonga have yet to qualify for France but, barring a sporting disaster, will do so.
Pool D for 2023, which features England, Japan, Argentina and Manu Samoa, plus an American qualifier, already looked spicy. Recent events may add a little more to the pot. Pool C is likely to include Australia, Wales, Fiji and Tonga; that could be pretty tasty too.
And yet, a word not so much of warning but scepticism amid the heart-warming news. Mate Ma'a Tonga's recent rugby league exploits in beating New Zealand, Great Britain and Australia in the space of a few years may be held up as a shining example of what could be achieved in the rugby world, but the reality may be a little different.
Most of Tonga's players compete in the NRL so are far more easily accessible in terms of geography than their Pasifika rugby counterparts dotted around Europe. It's probably fair to suggest that the NRL clubs operate with a little more goodwill towards their Pasifika players compared with the likes of the owners of Toulon or Bristol and that represents a different type of access.
Pasifika players employed by northern clubs will still face issues of insurance liabilities while representing their nations, and, while they may be released for World Cup duty, access out of that window may be a little more difficult to achieve.
As one highly-placed Pasifika coach told me: "They will still be at the mercy of their clubs."
He added that the news was positive but the reality may look quite different.
Credit, again, to Beaumont in terms of the game's administrators for pushing for a change that will improve the game and shows respect to what the Pacific Islands have given it. Let's celebrate that.
The wealthy club owners in Europe - the all-powerful mavericks standing in the way of a global season among other necessary advances - will see things differently, however. They could make things difficult. World Rugby's job here isn't necessarily over yet.
