Samoa coach’s warning over ‘archaic’ eligibility push
Scott Bailey |
Samoa coach Ben Gardiner has warned international rugby league could be sent back to the dark ages if eligibility rules change, labelling such a move “archaic”.
Sunday’s Pacific Cup blockbuster between Samoa and Tonga at Suncorp Stadium will be played amid fierce debate over eligibility rules, with growing calls for change.
There remains a push from some sectors to allow players to represent only one nation in their career, effectively forcing them to choose as a team as a teenager.
Arguments have also been made for Samoa and Tonga to be upgraded to tier-one status, meaning their players could not feature in State of Origin under current rules.
But Gardiner warned any such changes would be “detrimental” to the international game, urging officials to allow players to continue having free rein.
“It’d actually be archaic if it were to go back to what it was before 2013,” he said.
“We’ve had a few World Cups since 2013, and 2017 was the rise of Tonga and 2022 was the rise of Samoa.
“That all comes down to eligibility rules and the ability for players to be able to play for their nation of their choice.
“That puts us in a position to be the best team we can be. So keeping the rules and eligibility as it is now is the way to stay.”
One fear among Pacific nations would be that players could choose to prioritise Australia or New Zealand at the start of their careers, meaning they miss Test football until picked.
The rise of Samoa and Tonga has prompted renewed interest in the international game, with Sunday’s crowd anticipated to be the biggest for a Test in Australia for 13 years.
“The international game is the best it’s ever been, and it’s due to the current eligibility rules,” Gardiner said.
“I think keeping them the same way only grows the game further leading into the future.
“There’s no more three teams that can win the World Cup; now there’s four, five, six or seven teams that can potentially win the World Cup in 2026.
“It’s the best it’s ever been.”
Gardiner also stood united with Tonga coach Kristian Woolf in calling for the same off-field conditions as Australia for international matches.
Both Samoa and Tonga remain perplexed that their squad sizes were restricted to 21 players for recent England tours, while players flew economy.
Australia were able to take a 24-man squad for the Ashes tour and flew business, with an Australian referee in Grant Atkins also taken over.
Both sides remain concerned by the fact they and other Pacific sides will not be funded for next year’s World Cup in the same way Australia will be.
“I just think all the players are NRL-level players and fit under the same CBA (collective bargaining agreement),” Gardiner said.
“…And going into the World Cup, with it run by the NRL, it’s only fair that everyone gets equal chance to be their best.”
AAP
