Overseas Players: Bad for the Game?
So the RFU and the elite premiership clubs have settled their arguments over the availability of, and rest periods for, any England squad members. And over £110 million pounds is set to be handed from the Twickenham coffers to the likes of Sale, Leicester and Newcastle during the next few years to help compensate such clubs for the temporary loss of their leading England international players. A massive sum, and one which has aroused some considerable anger from many at clubs much lower down the leagues structure which note their own financial problems, and see the payment as a bribe and a means of enabling the major clubs to replace their home Internationals with a complementary team of players from overseas. Squads at the premier clubs grow ever bigger and ever more players come from overseas to play their rugby in this country. But is such an influx from abroad at all levels of play hindering the development of home grown youngsters?
Modern rugby, whether it be League or Union, at the top flight, is about providing entertainment and being attractive to, hopefully, an ever increasing audience. Attendances and financial returns have risen dramatically in both codes of rugby at the highest level and the competitiveness and attractions of both the Guinness Premiership and the engage Super League are because of the exciting mix of talent which is regularly on show from France, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Argentina etc and, of course, Great Britain. In Union, at clubs much lower down the leagues and as here at Moss Lane with Liverpool St.Helens FC, the morale and vibrancy of many clubs have been boosted by the arrival for a few months of a young man from overseas on a working holiday visa. Often his presence has helped to lift the spirit within the club, improved the play of others around him, and aroused the interest of the non playing members. As long as clubs pay particular attention to their outlay on flights, accommodation etc. then the returns can be considerable both on and off the pitch.
As early as 1900 rugby league led the way with imports from New Zealand and Australia and players like Wigan's Lance Todd, Huddersfield's Albert Rosenfeld and Oldham's George Smith became household names. Today even more top overseas stars flock to this country to ply their trade in both League and Union; and I do not think that it is any coincidence that both codes have, over the past decade, enjoyed the biggest increase in gates in both their two histories.
If England RU and England RL are to be competitive at international level then we must be creating our own multi talented youngsters to wear the jersey; but we must be subjecting them to talent from abroad and providing them with a very competitive environment in which they will either sink or swim. Junior clubs who recruit from abroad are providing the overseas players, the home players, their members, and their sponsors with a shared experience in rugby. Long may the mix continue – expense allowing!
Ray French
So the RFU and the elite premiership clubs have settled their arguments over the availability of, and rest periods for, any England squad members. And over £110 million pounds is set to be handed from the Twickenham coffers to the likes of Sale, Leicester and Newcastle during the next few years to help compensate such clubs for the temporary loss of their leading England international players. A massive sum, and one which has aroused some considerable anger from many at clubs much lower down the leagues structure which note their own financial problems, and see the payment as a bribe and a means of enabling the major clubs to replace their home Internationals with a complementary team of players from overseas. Squads at the premier clubs grow ever bigger and ever more players come from overseas to play their rugby in this country. But is such an influx from abroad at all levels of play hindering the development of home grown youngsters?
Modern rugby, whether it be League or Union, at the top flight, is about providing entertainment and being attractive to, hopefully, an ever increasing audience. Attendances and financial returns have risen dramatically in both codes of rugby at the highest level and the competitiveness and attractions of both the Guinness Premiership and the engage Super League are because of the exciting mix of talent which is regularly on show from France, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Argentina etc and, of course, Great Britain. In Union, at clubs much lower down the leagues and as here at Moss Lane with Liverpool St.Helens FC, the morale and vibrancy of many clubs have been boosted by the arrival for a few months of a young man from overseas on a working holiday visa. Often his presence has helped to lift the spirit within the club, improved the play of others around him, and aroused the interest of the non playing members. As long as clubs pay particular attention to their outlay on flights, accommodation etc. then the returns can be considerable both on and off the pitch.
As early as 1900 rugby league led the way with imports from New Zealand and Australia and players like Wigan's Lance Todd, Huddersfield's Albert Rosenfeld and Oldham's George Smith became household names. Today even more top overseas stars flock to this country to ply their trade in both League and Union; and I do not think that it is any coincidence that both codes have, over the past decade, enjoyed the biggest increase in gates in both their two histories.
If England RU and England RL are to be competitive at international level then we must be creating our own multi talented youngsters to wear the jersey; but we must be subjecting them to talent from abroad and providing them with a very competitive environment in which they will either sink or swim. Junior clubs who recruit from abroad are providing the overseas players, the home players, their members, and their sponsors with a shared experience in rugby. Long may the mix continue – expense allowing!
Ray French