Have the NRL solved the problem of player elegibility

Australian Rugby league have changed their rules on elegibity for their state of origin series. Basically to qualify for a representative team you need to be born in the state, lived in the state at some time before 13, or your dad had to have played for the state.

They found that teenage players were coming into New South Wales and Queensland, from out of state and overseas and being sucked into the state system. It now means that players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ rugby league and union school boy rep in 2011) wont be poached by Australia.

I'm thinking these would be great for international rugby. Undoubtedly issues, but better than the current setup.

The PI would be screwed. Especially in a few more generations when the number even with parents born there will massively reduce.

What about your mother?

What if you know all about Scotland and have been there?


Joking aside if the world cup "country of origin series" we might be onto something.

So what about this then:

1) You need to have been born in (scen 1), or lived in the country before the age of 16 (scen 2) or;
2) One of your parents must have been born in that country (scen 3) or;
3) If you enter the country after the age of 16 you need to undergo a 5 year naturalisation period at all levels (scen 4 - exclusion from all representative teams until this time has elapsed)

Scenario 1

Kid A is born in Kenya to Kenyan born parents. When he is a senior player he can play for Kenya

Scenario 2

Kid B is born in St Petersburg to Mexican parents. At the age of 12, they decide to move back to Mexico. Kid B has the choice of playing for either Russia or Mexico when he is a senior player

Scenario 3

Kid C is born in Thailand to a Welsh father and Thai mother. He lives his childhood in Thailand but is scouted by a Welsh club at the age of 20 and at 21 is picked in the Welsh test side

Scenario 4

Teenager A is born in the USA (couldn’t resist that) and represented USA in Rugby at U18 level. At an age grade tournament, he is scouted to play in the Japanese league at the age of 19. His birth parents are USA born and he has no links to Japan. After 5 years of naturalisation in that country, he can then play for Japan at the age of 24 provided he has not represented another country in that 5 years or another country’s Senior Test side or recognised ‘A’ team at any stage.

I think they went for 13 because the school and club scene means that players younger than 16 are being regularly recruited by schools, which feed into clubs and the state. I think Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams are examples.