www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 11pez.html Uate gets the blessing to be a flying Kangaroo ADRIAN PROSZENKO August 8, 2010 The former Australian Schoolboy will need a special exemption to qualify for the Four Nations tournament after representing Fiji in the Pacific Cup last November. But Uate has good reason for making the switch - it's understood Australian selectors have earmarked him as a potential replacement for AFL-bound Israel Folau for the end-of-season Test program. Once again the Aussies stomp all over any development in international RL.

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 11pez.html Uate gets the blessing to be a flying Kangaroo ADRIAN PROSZENKO August 8, 2010 The former Australian Schoolboy will need a special exemption to qualify for the Four Nations tournament after representing Fiji in the Pacific Cup last November. But Uate has good reason for making the switch - it's understood Australian selectors have earmarked him as a potential replacement for AFL-bound Israel Folau for the end-of-season Test program. Once again the Aussies stomp all over any development in international RL.

Why don't players declare which countries they are eligable for when they sign their first pro contract? Then once they have represented that country, they have to stick to it. Then they wear the nation they represent on their club shirt above their name i.e. Rally Drivers. Dead easy, no disputes or arguements.



Personally, i'm English but would be eligable for Wales, I could hold out for an England spot or choose Wales. But once I have made that decision it's hard lines if I want to switch back like Danny Brough or Jarryd Hayne.

players like Akuila uate are exactly the reason the ARL,RFL & NZRL won't close the loopholes that allows players to switch because once they become good enough they can snap them up.....nothing will ever change until we have a fully independent RLIF

Absolutely bang on mate. It's no wonder England don't win the WC as we have to play the 'southern hemisphere' rather than Australia or NZ. The best thing that could happen in the game today is an independant RLIF be formed and we can start to improve the International game properly.

TBF we aint that much better, fa'asavalu and now Manu. Dont recall either of them being born here. But I do agree that this changing nations thing is aload of rubbish. We should revert to the football way, and once you've played for a country, thats the only nation you can represent.

Yep, i hated fa'asavalu playing when I went to a GB game. And now Manu. Joke. I don't particulary mind the grandparent rule, just once you have chosen your team, stick to it.

All the Aussies care about is Australia. Always have always will.

nowt wrong with fa'asavalu playing for england....he qualifies exactly the same way as petro civonciva does







i'll grant you manu though....switching is the problem..not residency players or even grandparent players

Petro Civonciva moved to Australia before he was one, imo that would make him more of an Aussie. Fa'asavlua moved to England when he was around 24(?) and has absolutley no English heritage, it was just that he had been here for 3-4 years. Not really comparable. IMO theres everything wrong with Fa'asavalu playing for England.



As you said switch is a problem, I think everyone can agree on that, but I dont like residency players. Ive got no problem with those who have a heritage for a nation they play for, such as Richards who's parents were both born in Ireland.

I agree there BW. What's to stop a player of Island heritage playing in the NRL for an Aussie club for three years, moving to the Warriors for three years then moving to the SLE to play for an English club for three years and then finishing off at the Dragons for three years. He could have legitimately played for five different nations at the end of his career!!! Unlikely but possible. Could England now select Brent Webb?

It's simple.



You play for whatever country you are born in.



No exceptions.



The trouble with England is they have to rely on foreigners in their sporting sides because they can't produce enough quality ones of their own.



Look at the Cricket team. Its like South Africas second string.

Australian sports have NEVER used foreign players in their teams have they Bazza? By your rules it would have been bye bye Civonaceva, Tuqiri, El Masri, Fulton, Roberts etc. etc.