Rugby Australia to loosen offshore eligibility rules
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 9:20 pm
Seems like a pragmatic approach to be taking. Rory Arnold, Samu Kerevi and Tolu Latu are in line for call-ups this year from abroad.
Rugby Australia loosens Wallabies selection policy via Giteau Law amendment
Tom Decent
By Tom Decent
September 10, 2020 — 4.06pm
Towering second-rower Rory Arnold is at the top of Dave Rennie's hit list to recall for Wallabies duty this year under significant changes to the Giteau Law.
Also on his radar is centre Samu Kerevi and hooker Tolu Latu, after Rugby Australia on Thursday announced revisions that could open the door for a number of high-profile players plying their trade overseas.
For 2020 only, Rennie will be allowed to select two players who have not met the 60-Test or seven-year service threshold that has been in place since 2015. But the coach's calls must be flagged with Super Rugby franchises and require RA board sign-off to ensure those already in Australia are getting a fair go.
The players can only be selected during World Rugby international windows, which this year falls during the Rugby Championship pencilled in for November and December.
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It is hoped a SANZAAR meeting overnight will provide greater clarity on the Test schedule for the rest of the year and a venue - either in Australia or New Zealand - for the Rugby Championship.
The only other way a player could become available outside the window - say, for potential Bledisloe Cup matches this October - is through a prior agreement struck between the player, his overseas club and RA.
The two-man rule applies for an entire Wallabies squad, not a matchday 23.
While Rennie is yet to make a call on who he would like, Arnold, Kerevi and Latu have been touted as frontrunners on a wish list also featuring the likes of Will Skelton, Izack Rodda, Sean McMahon, Liam Gill, Scott Fardy, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Adam Coleman, among many others.
Australia's second-row stocks have been depleted and it's a department Rennie is keen to beef up potentially with Arnold, a starting Wallabies second-rower last year who has since moved to France.
Will Skelton in action for Saracens.
Will Skelton in action for Saracens. CREDIT:GETTY
It will be interesting to see whether Rennie decides to bring back another second-rower in the mould of Skelton or Rodda (both in France) or plug a hole in a key position such as No.12 or hooker.
Kerevi, who flew back to Japan on Thursday after spending the past few months in Australia, had been one of the Wallabies' best in recent years but until now had been ineligible, having played only 33 Tests.
Rennie must determine whether he sees more value in Kerevi's damaging runs, as seen in last year's Bledisloe fixture in Perth, or Latu, one of Australia’s best at the World Cup, given Super Rugby candidates are not banging the door down.
Whichever way Rennie goes, he will have to mount a case and secure approval from higher up as he begins the job of helping the Wallabies improve their underwhelming world No.7 world ranking.
An RA statement said: "The process includes a consultation phase between Wallabies selectors [Rennie and director of rugby Scott Johnson], the Australian Super Rugby sides and Rugby Australia’s governance and policy subcommittee, which consists of Rugby Australia board directors Daniel Herbert, Phil Waugh and Hayden Rorke. Endorsement from the full Rugby Australia board will then be required to proceed with the recommendation."
The same approval process will apply to players returning from overseas who make a two-year commitment to Australian rugby, in the same way Brumbies halfback Nic White did before the World Cup while still at Exeter.
Rennie can still pull players from abroad with more than 60 Tests to their name, such as Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley, but that appears unlikely as the Kiwi prepares to name his first Wallabies squad on Sunday following the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels qualifying final a day earlier at Suncorp Stadium.
In a statement, Rennie said: "It is crucial that we recognise those players who are currently making a daily contribution to Rugby in Australia and that will be reflected in the squad we name for this year's Test season.
"We now have the chance to select one or two players based overseas who don’t meet the current criteria and they’ll not only add some experience to our group but be able to guide our young players to help their development.
"We are also looking long term though. We want to bring players back to play Super Rugby here in Australia, especially those who are passionate about playing for the Wallabies, get them excited about being in the environment again and this is a great way to encourage that.