Ben Botica to play for England

First topic message reminder :

He qualifies, due to a British passport. The former North Shore boy, and NZ schoolboy rep could be selected anytime. His dad wasn't half bad at union and league (until he did his legs at the Warriors). Interesting to see how he goes for Quins.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Mate that topic has been done to death...and i can list the answers..

1) We all agree its wrong for the 3 year rule...
2) Birth and Parents countries count
3) Grandparents countries shouldnt
4) Youngsters who have learnt rugby in said country are fine

Blah blah blah...

should those who learn their rugby or were born/live in Newcastle also qualify to play for England or is that just a step too far and setting the standards too low

Wouldnt Newcastle players be closer to Scotland?

Than where?

London (England)or Cardiff (wales).

should those who learn their rugby or were born/live in Newcastle also qualify to play for England or is that just a step too far and setting the standards too low

Well Deano seems to think so...and i trust his opinion over yours

Auckland...well yes i have heard Newcastle called a small town in Scotland etc...Newcastle has always had a strong Scottish contingent...but we are definately in England....

The more I think about it, and now that I know that most of the citizens are jusy roaming about willy nilly without passports, why dont they just let the players just play for any country they like?

It seems that no matter what system is put in place,and if players like Shane Howarth and Ben Botica can make them look stupid, then why not?

I would have thought it would be easier for the Newcastle players to get to training if they just had to drive up the road.

The more I think about it, and now that I know that most of the citizens are jusy roaming about willy nilly without passports, why dont they just let the players just play for any country they like?

Because then we would be the Pacific Islands...

Nothing wrong with the Pacific islands.

I know...we'll be supporting our version of them in a few years

aucklandlaurie wrote:
The more I think about it, and now that I know that most of the citizens are jusy roaming about willy nilly without passports, why dont they just let the players just play for any country they like?

It seems that no matter what system is put in place,and if players like Shane Howarth and Ben Botica can make them look stupid, then why not?

I would have thought it would be easier for the Newcastle players to get to training if they just had to drive up the road.

Obviously you realise you are describing the migration of PI players to NZ and yes, i agree...from now on Newcastle players should play in Scotland - similar standard

I think its now time to get back on topic.

Talking of New Zealand number 10 s ranked lower than AC and DC.

Apparently Gareth Anscombe also travels on a British passport, he has some Welsh connection, no doubt Gatty will know all about it.

Just run a full time Southern Hemisphere English team down south on a year long basis made up of British passport holding Aussies and New Zealanders.

Then that team could come up North, thrash the pasty faced version and it's kudos to both sides, and none of the bitter sting of it being an Aussie or a New Zealand side doing the thrashing.

You know it makes sense.

mowgli wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:
The more I think about it, and now that I know that most of the citizens are jusy roaming about willy nilly without passports, why dont they just let the players just play for any country they like?

It seems that no matter what system is put in place,and if players like Shane Howarth and Ben Botica can make them look stupid, then why not?

I would have thought it would be easier for the Newcastle players to get to training if they just had to drive up the road.

Obviously you realise you are describing the migration of PI players to NZ and yes, i agree...from now on Newcastle players should play in Scotland - similar standard

Thats Fine..the Scots will benefit from one of the best acadamies in Britain which is now being ran by Deano...no skin off my nose...

SecretFly wrote:Just run a full time Southern Hemisphere English team down south on a year long basis made up of British passport holding Aussies and New Zealanders.

Then that team could come up North, thrash the pasty faced version and it's kudos to both sides, and none of the bitter sting of it being an Aussie or a New Zealand side doing the thrashing.

You know it makes sense.

They could call it the Commonwealth games..

I've been mentioning Botica since the pre-season. He was excellent, and i knew he was one to watch. That being said though, he proved last week that he has the ability to step to the level required for high end club play.

That being said, although i believe that it is an honour to have a lot of your clubs players be selected for England, he needs more time to show his stuff. 3/4's of a game does not a great 10 make. Place him in the Saxons based on form, give him another season, see if he's good enogh for a bench spot for summer tours 2013 earliest.

Personally I thought he was very good in last years ITM, Harbour are really missing him this year.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
The more I think about it, and now that I know that most of the citizens are jusy roaming about willy nilly without passports, why dont they just let the players just play for any country they like?
.

Last England Wales match both teams had the same number of backs born in England....

If you scrape the money for the Severn toll, you can cross to / from England fairly easily. Unfortunately we do lose a few Englishmen to Welsh rugby the other way. There is actually quite a lot of cross border breeding going on to which dilutes the purity of the Welsh line.

Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales, speaks some Welsh, but he can't play rugby. His nephew played for Scotland schools. UK nations are pretty mixed up.