Rugby to tackle foreigners

Rugby

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

By Peter Bills

The International Rugby Board is in talks with UEFA, Europe's leading soccer organisation, to present a united front seeking restrictions on overseas sportsmen within the European Community boundaries.

New IRB Chief Bernard Lapasset has warned that unless individual sports combine in Europe to take their case on too many foreign players to the EU court, what he sees as an already damaging trend may destroy the unique culture of sports within the European countries.

Lapasset revealed that he has already had talks with UEFA President Michel Platini, who, alarmed by the number of overseas stars in the Barclays Premiership, has expressed similar concerns.

"I met Michel Platini last week and he has the same problem as us in rugby € too many foreign players. England is more famous for the same problem in soccer. There are no more English players in soccer.

"It's possible that rugby could go the same way and it's very dangerous for us. Take Argentina, for instance. How is it acceptable that the professional system in Argentina is paid for by the English and French clubs?

"They have no structure for professional rugby in Argentina. We cannot continue like that. We need to promote some professional structure in Argentina to be sure that they will have the capability tomorrow to promote top players, not like now. That's the big issue for us.

"We need to speak, England and France and the other unions, with the same voice. How can we promote a big issue for sports in Europe if we have different voices and different interests in the development of the game"?

Lapasset says he has already had discussions with Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission on the issue.

But are not rugby and soccer, if they find common ground, trying to erect, in effect, a trade barrier for Europe?

"For the first time in Europe with the Treaty of Nice, the decision taken by the political members was that we have specific regulations for sports. We have specific identity for sports. We need to define that. For the first time, we have to define what is the specification of the sport, what is it that makes it unique?

"Sport is not a commercial thing like water, wine or salt. It's not the same category of activity and we need to demonstrate that it is different from other things.

"That is crucial for rugby in particular but also for other sports. We need to define what exactly is sport. I'm sure we have the capability to put in some regulation to control the education system by both the rugby and soccer clubs; to promote education within those clubs to make sure that we have a minimum of players coming from the training academies."

The issue could be highly contentious, delving deep into things like the Kolpak agreement which has enabled players from countries like South Africa to avoid any sanctions within the EU. But Lapasset said: "If we open all the frontiers regarding foreign players within the unions, we lose our national identities and that's very important. We need diversity of the game.

"A foreign player is different from one that would play in say Italy or Scotland or Ireland. We must protect the cultural identity of the game in Europe."

So in a perfect world, how many home grown players would Lapasset want in an EU based team?

It would depend on the system chosen, he says. But of the 22 players in a squad, he thinks a minimum of 10 € 15 is needed. "For the moment, there would be a revolution because the clubs have contracts with the players for up to 3 or 4 years. But our vision should be a maximum of 15. That is not closing the frontier," he adds. "But at the moment, there are over 300 South African rugby players in France alone. This is crazy.

"If we continue like this, in ten years time there will be no more (French born) props in France."

Lapasset moved on to the new laws. Have not most of the matches in the 2008 Six Nations proved that the new laws currently being trialled in the southern hemisphere are needed in this part of the world?

"I totally agree. I was in New Zealand to see the Chiefs v Blues game in Auckland and the ball stayed more on the field for the players to play with it. It's a more open game and we can see the ball more. That's important in terms of being able to enjoy the game. It's more exciting in terms of creating a better game.

"The second thing of importance to me is that the referee is more comfortable handling the game.

"In many 6 Nations games, if you look at the TV, all the time he is shouting 'hands off', 'ruck', 'roll away' That's not the role of the referee. That's a crazy situation, he's coaching the game instead of refereeing it.

"For me, these new laws provide a balance between the traditions of the game. And the decision of the referee to award a penalty kick does not influence the scoreboard."

The new laws should be trialled in the northern hemisphere starting next season, in September 2008. A final decision would be made in spring 2009, two years before the next Rugby World Cup.

The new IRB head also wants the next TWO World Cup locations to be settled later this year. At the moment, there are four candidates for 2015 - England, South Africa, Argentina and probably Japan. But Lapasset says: "I have explained to the Executive Committee that we need to decide for two World Cups at the same time. We need more vision for the future, more time. It's a long process to organise a Rugby World Cup. So probably we have to decide at the end of the year."