Hello New Zealand. Are you listening? Forget the wishful thinking, speculation and ill-informed comment.
Blues wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca does not qualify to play for the All Blacks.
He is making a big impression in his second season of Super 12 but the only test jersey he can wear this WorldCup year is the white of Fiji.
New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive, Steve Tew, repeated that position yesterday as debate about the issue swirled through rugby circles.
Caucaunibuca's staggering start to this Super 12 has re-emphasised the individual danger he poses, the collective threat from fellow Fijian wings in the tournament and the dearth of wings commending themselves to the All Black selectors.
"Rupeni has played for Fiji in sevens and under the IRB rules he is ineligible for the All Blacks," Tew said.
"We have contracted and selected him for the Super 12 on that basis."
The NZRFU had not considered asking the IRB for a dispensation to allow Caucaunibuca to be available for the All Blacks.
The regulations were clear from the IRB. But the sport's ruling body had asked member nations if it was necessary or timely to review the player eligibility regulations.
The NZRFU thought there might be some merit in that idea as "we do have some sympathy for our island nation colleagues with players who might want to play for them, players like Andrew Blowers or Charles Reichelmann".
"But we have not contacted the IRB," said Tew.
Caucaunibuca played several seasons of the world series sevens circuit and at last year's Commonwealth Games.
Eligibility laws altered in 1999, rules which stated that once players represented a country at sevens or senior level they could not switch to represent another country.
