Leinster Branch to limit number of "overseas players"???

Steffano2002 · 21-09-2005 1:04pm #1

I got an e-mail this morning from my captain asking me if I had an Irish passport. I told him I didn't and asked him why he needed to know. He answered the following:

"(...) The Leinster Branch have issued new rules about the number of 'overseas players' that can play on each team in J3 or J4 competition. (...)"

Have any of you heard such a thing? I tried finding related articles/news on the Leinster Rugby and IRFU websites but I didn't find anything...

Why introduce such a rule at such a low level? I really can't think of anything positive to justify this new rule!

RuggieBear · 21-09-2005 1:20pm

strange.

when i was playing the equivalent level in England, the amount of paid australians and south africans was unreal....maybe it's to combat something like that.

edit: i'm assuming you are french and thus have a eu passport. Maybe it'll make a difference. They can't discriminate against a fellow eu citizen...can they?

Steffano2002 · 21-09-2005 2:14pm

I am indeed French and I do indeed have a EU passport. But the term used ("overseas players") is very confusing... France is overseas. Hell Ireland is an island so every country is overseas!

At professional level, where there is money involved, I would understand such a rule... But J3/J4? :eek: Come on now...

[Jackass] · 21-09-2005 5:31pm

That's strange alright....the only thing I can think is that they want as much development as possible for home grown talent.

Are there restrictions on the full Leinster squad? I'd like to see a Max. of 3 over seas players on the pitch at anyone time in all competitions for the full Leinster team.

I'd prefer finishing bottom of the CL and playing Irish players than winning the HC and having no players to go through to the national team....cause that's what it's all about at the end of the day.

Crash · 21-09-2005 5:44pm

i wouldnt mind that idea so much if they were actually getting the latest home grown talent through to national level...but....

Steffano2002 · 21-09-2005 8:05pm

Yeah that's fair enough. At that level, having restrictions can make sense. But J3/J4? Hello?! :eek:

CJhaughey · 22-09-2005 9:43pm

DubGuy wrote:

I'd prefer finishing bottom of the CL

Quite likely I would say;)

Red Soup · 23-09-2005 2:21pm

that's strange, at amature level. i'd hope it doesn't exist, actually, because us irish players can learn a hell of a lot from playing with overseas players. 2 kiwis came to our club for a few months and they brought the level of physicality up, and introduced new techniques. to limit this at amature level is madness. i'd like to see it implemented on some english professional sides, though.

Steffano2002 · 24-09-2005 6:36pm

Fully agree with the above!

Eoin · 27-09-2005 9:53am

I think that there has been a limit of one non-EU player at J1 level for a while? I seem to remember this being an issue in our club, but could be totally mistaken...

quickstitch.ie · 28-09-2005 1:35pm

It's ok if you're a EU player.. the foreign rule is for non EU players as far as I know....

Steffano2002 · 29-09-2005 9:23am

Are you sure quickstitch.ie? To be honest, that's what we were all thinking (and hoping!)... I hope you're right! It would save me getting an Irish Passport

Red Soup · 30-09-2005 10:58am

I mean who wants one of those?

Leinster Branch to limit number of "overseas players"???

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