RLIF Eligibility Rules Tightened
4th November 2009
Rugby league bosses have tightened international qualification regulations in the face of mounting criticism over players switching countries too often. As New Zealand prepare to take on England this Saturday for a spot in the Four Nations final, developments in Paris at a meeting of the Rugby League International Federation executive could mean the Kiwis will not be able to call up many players from the Pacific nations in future. "We have tightened it up a little - once you play in a World Cup qualifier for one country, you cannot switch to another for the World Cup," said RLIF executive chairman Colin Love. "There won't be the provision to apply to change. It just won't be permitted." Had the rule applied for the 2008 World Cup, New Zealand would not have been able to take Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki on tour to Europe in 2007, while Tonga's Feleti Mateo would have been disqualified from Australian selection for three years. Moimoi and Tuiaki applied to change their eligibility a second time and, when denied, took legal action and were cleared by the courts to return to the Tongan side -- but only if they made the semifinals, which they did not. Love said the rule did not affect players who represented a country in Test series or tournaments with no World Cup bearing, nor would it stop the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Neville Costigan playing State of Origin and going on to represent another nation. "But all players who play Origin must, in the first instance, be available for Australia,'' he said. Players who want to change to another country after representing one in a non-World Cup game must still apply to the RLIF. Jarryd Hayne and Michael Jennings playing for Fiji and Tonga respectively just 12 months ago and then appearing in the Four Nations for Australia has confused some commentators. The RLIF considers the period between World Cups as a "cycle'' with all players allowed to change their election at the end of that cycle. Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea do not need to play qualifiers - meaning the younger nations can still call up players from those nations who miss section for a World Cup. The makeup and format of the next World Cup will be discussed in Paris next week.