Do the All Blacks exploit the Pacific Islands?

By wre01 / Roar Guru

There is no doubt that, thanks to the current World Rugby eligibility laws, New Zealand is the primary beneficiary of Pacific Island player drain.

All Black greats Olo Brown, Jerome Kaino, Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko and Waisake Naholo were all born outside of New Zealand, to name a few.

It would be entirely wrong to criticise the New Zealand Rugby Union selectively. It is not the only union to benefit from the eligibility rules.

It must be said at the outset that many All Blacks of Pacific Islander descent were born in New Zealand. Sonny-Bill Williams and Julian Savea are two of the highest profile examples.

It is also blatantly obvious that Australia, England, France and, to a lesser extent, Wales benefit significantly from Pacific Islander talent.

Despite being the most affected region, the problem isn’t just restricted to the Pacific Islands. Funnily enough, Zimbabwe could feel rightly aggrieved; David Pocock was born in Zimbabwe as were Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, Kyle Godwin and Dave Denton amongst many others.

At the 2015 World Cup, it was estimated that at least 25 per cent of the players competing were of Pacific Island decent. Dan Leo, the Samoan international who was ironically born in Auckland, wrote that Pacific Islanders played in 12 of the 20 teams at the tournament.

The current eligibility rules have resulted in some ridiculous outcomes both high and low profile. Noa Nakaitaci has strapped on the boots for France. Samuela Vunisa now represents Italy while Paula Kinikinilau is a standard bearer for Romanian rugby.

Perhaps more worryingly is the news that French rugby clubs are now actively recruiting impoverished Fijians of school age with the lure of professional careers in Europe. Ben Ryan, the Fijian Sevens coach, warned this year that many agents are unaccredited and that Fiji has become like the ‘Wild West’ of rugby recruitment.

Recently, the combative Augustin Pichot was appointed as the vice-chairman for World Ruby. Pichot was quick to identify the problem himself.

“There are special cases where players moved when they were 10 or 12 years old. But just moving to a country, being taken from an academy, like they are doing in Tonga, and put into play, say, in an Ireland shirt, I’m against it. I think it is not right,” Pichot said.

Pichot is now writing a highly-anticipated report on the issue with an intention to amend eligibility criteria. It promises to make some massive recommendations, most of which will be welcome in many quarters.

It is not a straightforward case of assessing birth, residency and professional rugby careers and then assigning a nationality.

What right does World Rugby have to tell, for example, Scott Spedding that he’s not French? Where is the line in the sand between what Pichot refers to as ‘special cases’ and telling a player his case is quite simply not ‘special’ enough?

The Vunipola brothers and their cousin Toby Faletau spring to mind as being particularly difficult subjects. All are of Tongan ancestry. Mako was born in Wellington in 1991, Billy was born in Sydney in 1992 but educated in England before playing for England under 20s. Toby was born in Tonga and moved to Wales with his father, also a professional rugby player, as a seven-year-old.

Perhaps Toby would be the ‘special case’ that Pichot anticipates but would both of the Vunipolas be eligible to play for England or just one of them under Pichot’s proposed reforms?

Despite the likely difficulties that have and will be encountered, the problem is simply too severe and serious for it to be placed in the ‘too hard’ basket.

There have been some promising recent developments. Australia has confirmed the admission of a Fijian side into the National Rugby Championship. New Zealand played a historic test in Apia in July 2015. However, so much more needs to be done to promote Pacific Island Rugby and ensure that a Fijian side in the NRC does not just become a feeder side for the All Blacks and Wallabies.

While the problem is as plain as day, the solutions will take a little more thinking.

Firstly, Tier 1 nations should be required to play at least one Test every four years in Samoa, Tonga or Fiji. It might not sound like lots of rugby but given England and Australia have not toured Fiji since 1984 and 1991 respectively it is a step in the right direction. A Super Rugby fixture should also rotate through the islands at least once a year.

Secondly, the three-year residency rule for international eligibility needs to be lengthened to a period of five continuous years and applied at both under 20 and senior level. Such a step would at least cause a pause for thought for all involved. It would also ensure that a child of 13 would need to live in a country until at least his 18th birthday before representing that country. Schoolboy sides should be exempt from the rule to ensure kids aren’t penalised or disadvantaged based on where their parents choose to live.

Thirdly, Pacific Islander players should be incentivised by World Rugby to play for their country of birth or origin. This could take the form of central contracts paid by World Rugby at market value to Islander players of exceptional talent. I disagree with allowing someone to play for Australia, for example, before switching back to Fiji. That is a Pandora’s box the game cannot afford to open.

Finally, any agents or clubs found to be enticing children from the Pacific Islands under the age of 18 into signing agreements or professional contracts should be severely penalised. There should be simply no scope in rugby for such conduct and behaviour.

As a game, rugby owes it to the Pacific Islands to finally come clean and make the wrongs of the past right. It’s not just an issue for New Zealand and Australia, but one World Rugby must take ownership of.

It is all very well chasing the dollars and promoting rugby in America and Singapore. But as a game that regularly takes the moral high ground, it would be hypocritical to neglect the Pacific anymore.

The Crowd Says:

2021-09-18T15:19:51+00:00

Peter

Guest


Modern day gladiators. 25% Islanders in the 2015 World Cup. How many in 2023? By 2027 they could be the majority. It makes the concept of national teams look pretty ridiculous. Of the major teams only South Africa and Argentina haven't, so far, strengthened their squads with Islanders.

2021-04-14T06:49:57+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


Hayne didn't go on to represent the USA. And if he did - who cares. If the young talented PI players go to France to play and make good coin, good on em and good luck. If half of them are like Maika Sivo and send money home to their parents, which no doubt also goes to other family members because of how strong the family bond is in many places, so it improves their standard of living - bloody great.

2021-04-14T06:43:14+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


5 years is still bugger all in professional footy, needs to be upped to 8 and / or make them become a citizen of that country to show their loyalty is to that country and not the almighty dollar / pound / French Franc whichever currency and country they are playing in.

2021-04-14T06:40:09+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


they still haven't gotten over getting knocked out in the RWC semi's to EN-GER-LAND

2019-04-03T19:11:17+00:00

Darren C

Guest


I honestly believe that to qualify for any nation you must have a proven bloodline of no more than 2 generations , BUT AS in the case of Toby Faletau for Wales , if learned the game as a child and lived in adopted country since a child it is more complicated granted . BUT to use Wales and accuse them of residency rules is a joke , only Hadleigh Parkes in current squad is qualified this way, don't even start on English born players , as Wales one of Europe's poorest countries ,with a poor NHS even though invented by a Welsh man , hospitals all along the English border are non existent , George North and his entire family are Welsh speakers , but family lived in england for work at time of North's birth , Welsh as Welsh air , in future Wales will be struggling more and more for Welsh born players in certain areas in North and Mid Wales . Luckily not too much of a problem in South Wales where the majority are bred , in rugby terms , England are currently looking more like a pacific island team than England . Scotland and Ireland have more players used on residency than Wales , so do France and Italy . So Wales have less than any 6n team , Anscombe qualifies as Welsh mother . BEN TE'O is the case in my mind that needs to be squashed and now , born in one country plays rugby league for another , poses in Ireland rugby shirt in 2015 world cup ,saying can't wait for first irish cap then plays for England the following year . Mercenary , ,New Zealand have always been thought of as a team of poached players historically . In the NH. BUT I myself have never looked much into it , as though many have Samoan , Fijian , Tongan etc ancestry , they were mostly actually born in NZ,..maybe the NZ rugby union should get players to sign saying ONLY eligible for NZ before financially putting anything into their career . But the whole residency rule should be scrapped , unless ( just a thought ) , they have lived in a country not of their birth before 15th or 16 th birthday , . As parents moved and took them etc , thus giving some pacific islanders a chance of making a living and ensuring their children also have chance of making money in short careers , it's hard to debate ax every country guilty , but blames every other country for doing it , 2 generation rule unless lived in adopted country from childhood , meaning no moving at 22 after being financed by one union and then selling your wares to another

2017-09-10T02:09:19+00:00

William

Guest


Idiot, the islands benefit alot more as most their teams are made of NZ born an raised players regardless of ancestry. Or should all the NZ whites have to play for british teams.

2016-10-30T10:38:37+00:00

Debz

Guest


Dylan Hartley maybe. And I'm sure there's some Leslie's who went to Scotland who were on the cusp of AB selection. Quade Cooper might have made it. And there was a winger from QLD reds who was pretty good - can't remember his name but he got into the Oz side.

2016-10-30T09:56:52+00:00

ebop

Guest


....and Fiji

2016-10-30T09:29:03+00:00

Phantom

Roar Rookie


If it is a boy and wants to be a great rugby player they will surely choose the ABs .

2016-10-30T09:26:55+00:00

Phantom

Roar Rookie


Just like there is no doubt that given the eligabily laws Australia is the greates beneficiary of the player drain from New Zealand.

2016-10-29T22:00:26+00:00

Whakaata

Guest


This article is just poor all round. It is abundantly clear that the author has done very little research and is in fact relying on emotion to get hits and comments from otherwise ill-informed and one-eyed All Black and New Zealand rugby haters. With google literally at your fingertips it would only take minutes to find facts that discredit this notion that NZ pillages the pacific islands of talent. As has been stated here already numerous times, New Zealand exports far more rugby players to the islands than they take. Nearly half the entire squads from Tonga and Samoa at the 2015 world cup were from New Zealand. New Zealanders born and raised playing for the islanders as mummy, daddy or granny and pop were or are from there. make no mistake these players all took full advantage of the NZ system many playing representative footy for their home regions, it pays to remember Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world. Tell me what if anything did the pacific do to develop those players born and raised in New Zealand? That's right literally nothing except a passport, they only want them when they know they are developed to a level where they will be good enough for the national team. What about players like Tana Umaga, Kevin Mealamu and Ma'a Nonu all NZ born and raised should they be denied the chance to represent their country of birth and entire life because they have Polynesian ancestry? What about SBW or Michael Jones both half castes where one of their parents is actually white? Neither are more Samoan than they are Kiwi. Many of these lads only choose to play for the islands once they realise they aren't quite good enough to make the All Blacks, you are delusional if you believe these (NZ born) kids grow up dreaming of playing for the islands, NZ is the first choice for 99 % of them because they are kiwis. Now don't get me wrong all are proud of their heritage but that's what it is heritage they are no less kiwi than I (Maori) or Richie McCaw. That takes me to a whole other angle, should McCaw be eligible for Scotland, Carter for England etc etc There are so many holes you could pick in this poorly researched and written article I could just about write an entire thesis but Let's just leave it there and for what it is, a load of nonsense.

2016-10-29T15:41:39+00:00

Aucklandlaurie

Guest


WRE01. Dont use your article as just a vehicle to wind up Kiwis, you know New Zealand does a lot for Pacific island rugby.

2016-10-29T15:39:47+00:00

Aucklandlaurie

Guest


Because you havent researched the subject you chose to write about. if you did you would realise that New zealand has pushed for many Pacific island/Tier 2 benefits at IRB and World rugby level. Dont call us Sensitive/defensive when you write flaky articles.

2016-10-29T15:30:15+00:00

Aucklandlaurie

Guest


WRE01:No you dont realise that New Zealand is a Pacific Island so of course it should select Pacific island players. Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the World.. Before you start childishly start accusing us of being sensitive and defensive you should come over and watch some Auckland club rugby then you would aim your mischief at the headline Writer and realise that you have approached the subject of your piece from completely the wrong anlge.

2016-10-29T13:09:46+00:00

BrainsTrust

Guest


The deep connection between New Zealand rugby and Samoa is such that they have never been able to tour there at their own cost. Their one appearance recently left Samoan rugby in huge debt.They also feel so deeply connected they would rather travel to the ends of the earth in super rugby than have any teams from the Pacific Islands. Rugby in Samoa itself has gotten nothing from NZ rugby. NZ Samoans do benefit from NZ rugby but so do NZ as All Blacks get ther first shot of the best. WHat these people don't realise is that while they cheer the All BLacks because they have so many relatives in NZ and in the All Blacks, is at the other end of the stick, NZ is the one who forced the issue on IRB distribution with the threat of a world cup boycott.

2016-10-29T11:06:00+00:00

S .Johnson

Guest


New Zealand is a pacific island nation..so whats the difference. ..

2016-10-29T07:01:24+00:00

Geoff

Guest


Seems like wre01 (wtf is that about? write an article, use you own name c.o.w.a.r.d, you're not just a commenter now) has had his a.s.s handed to him over this issue. Do some cursory research before you embarrass yourself again son

2016-10-29T06:57:23+00:00

Geoff

Guest


I think we just are sick of I.d.i..o.t.s like you shooting your mouth off for no other purpose than riling people up. Seems like a fair reaction to me seeing as you've had your a.s.s handed to you factually on this post.

2016-10-29T06:51:38+00:00

Geoff

Guest


Jake AS OF 2014 Lost on you bro?

2016-10-29T06:50:57+00:00

Geoff

Guest


Jake A

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