International Teams: Too Many Foreign Imports.

In my own playing days in rugby union in the Sixties and Seventies, and for two or three decades after, there was always a good sprinkling of players with a Northern background who were rewarded with an England cap. Outstanding halves like Bev Risman, Tom Brophy, and John Horton,pacy, clever threequarters like Mike Phillips, Bill Patterson, Jim Roberts, Mike Slemen,and Mike Weston,and tough forwards of the quality of Fran Cotton, Bill Beaumont, Tony Nearey,  Roger Uttley and company came to the fore. Throughout the history of the Home Nations tournament there has been no shortage of Northern talent to occupy the white shirt of England or fellow Scots, Irish, and Welsh players to provide the opposition.

It would appear to be not so today for, if one takes a look at the make up of this seasons four Home Nations squads, it is not only Northerners who have to battle harder to win an international cap but the rest of the British Isles.

In the four Home Nations squads selected for this 2016 season over 28 players were born outside the country they hoped to represent, with Scotland leading the way of those born abroad with 11, Wales 6, Ireland 6, and England 5 representatives. The three year residential ruling currently in vogue has certainly made a difference to the make up of our international teams. And no doubt the fees payable to those who represent “their country” – England players receive a fee of £7,322 per game plus a weekly training fee of £1,061 – are a persuasion to “jump ship” and don another jersey.

There is no doubt that a higher salary and bigger financial offerings can play a huge part in a player’s dedication and application to his game. A young player can see the tangible rewards for pursuing his goal of international rugby and  a full time professional can elevate his skills  and fitness levels for the betterment of the sport itself and the greater enjoyment of its spectators. But there comes a time in any international competition when one needs to be confident that the English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh side you are supporting is made up of genuine qualifiers and not a hotch pot of global travellers.

Dare I say, a little like the All Blacks with their array of Pacific Islanders who do so much to help New Zealand maintain its No1 position in world rugby union!

Whatever the selection criteria allowed today we must always do our best to create a pathway for any British born youngster to realise his ambitions of playing for his country and we must ensure – be that sport rugby union or rugby league, football, or cricket – that his chances of selection at the highest of levels are equal, if not more so, to those from abroad.

Ray French March 2016