The Indy Rugby Podcast: Will foreign-born players eventually kill international rugby?
The Independent’s Jack de Menezes is joined by fellow rugby writer Duncan Bech to discuss whether the selection of players born abroad by all nations at the Rugby World Cup is harming what the sport offers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The 2019 Rugby World Cup is just three days away from raising the curtain in Tokyo as Japan face Russia, and in a week where if finally felt like interest in the tournament took off, rugby fever is sweeping across the Land of the Rising Sun.
We’ve been right across the latest news in Japan, and joining Jack de Menezes on this episode is the Press Association’s England rugby union correspondent Duncan Bech to talk over what’s been happening at the team’s Miyazaki training base.
But more importantly, they discuss how the selection of foreign-based players is impacting on the state of the sport. Following the strong comments made by England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care over his omission – and New Zealand-born Willi Heinz’s inclusion – in the England squad, we ask if it’s right to select players from all over the globe?
On the one hand, players who qualify through parents or grandparents are doing nothing wrong as the current World Rugby laws allow them to do so, while players who spend three years in a country have until now been allowed to pledge allegiance to that nation.
But on the other, should unions stick by the players who have shown a commitment and loyalty to that country by remaining within its system and helping to boost it?
Download the episode here as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen.
In the next episode, Jack de Menezes will catch up with Samuel Lovett in Tokyo to look forward towards Saturday’s epic encounter between the All Blacks and the Springboks.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments