Special Project Players

[Dave Cahill]

No they won't. Presidents of the FFR making solo runs happens every week and twice during Summer. If the FFR voted for everything various presidents said they would, we'd be playing a cross between soccer and backgammon.

The reality of this statement is that next year is an election year in France. Laporte's party, Les Republicans are moving to the right in order to compete with the FN and this is just a rightist politician making a volkisch statement.

[All Blacks nil]

I don't have particularly strong view on this but I do remember one Irish team that only had one person in the backs actually born in Ireland back in the late 80's so it been an issue for quite some time.

1991 had the most glaring example- is that the year you mean? All London Irish input of Geoghegan, Staples, Saunders, Curtis... who else?


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Brian Smith at outhalf and of course Israel's Brenny Mullin!!!!

[simonokeeffe]

gavin mortimer ‏@gavinmortimer7 2h2 hours ago

Just got round to reading a big interview with FFR chief Bernard Laporte in yesterday's @midi_olympique. Had this to say about foreigners
Bill Beaumont has asked us if we're ready to support World Rugby's project to increase the residency rule from 3 to 5 years. I told him:
'You have no worries about France, it's finished that. There will be no more foreigners playing for France. For me, it's forbidden'."

[offshorerules]

I don't have particularly strong view on this but I do remember one Irish team that only had one person in the backs actually born in Ireland back in the late 80's so it been an issue for quite some time.

1991 had the most glaring example- is that the year you mean? All London Irish input of Geoghegan, Staples, Saunders, Curtis... who else?


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Brian Smith at outhalf and of course Israel's Brenny Mullin!!!!

That's the one, I think it was Kenny Murphy at full back being the only Irish born player. And also don't let us ever forget Irelands greatest import USA's Ronan O'Gara.

[Oldschool]

Jamie Heaslip is Ireland's greatest import.
Another Messiah that the Jews missed out on.

[simonokeeffe]

Jamie Heaslip is Ireland's greatest import.
Another Messiah that the Jews missed out on.

he's not the messiah he's a...

[Oldschool]

Jamie Heaslip is Ireland's greatest import.
Another Messiah that the Jews missed out on.

he's not the messiah he's a...

Miracle worker.

[simonokeeffe]

Aki isnt committing to us just yet

"I literally do not know what I want to do at the end of the season, or who I want to play for. First off, I need to make sure that Connacht do well," he said. (Indo)

[johng]

Unless he is going to buy himself out of his Connacht contract his only choices for Intl rugby are Ireland or Samoa.

Even if he did buy himself out he would probably have to also take a pay cut to go back to NZ and try to get into the ABs.

So. Big money in France or England but no intl Rugby for at least another 3 years (if they don't extend it to 5) or play for Ireland (or Samoa if he doesn't care about cash)

He does have a history of talking before he considers his options though.

[R-Dog]

I would guess playing international rugby here would be a big enough cash boost (off field earnings too) to compete with any offer Aki would receive across the ponds

[johng]

I would guess playing international rugby here would be a big enough cash boost (off field earnings too) to compete with any offer Aki would receive across the ponds

Yes. That's what I was driving at. It's probably his best option. Maybe uncle Joe is not keen?

[simonokeeffe]

I would guess playing international rugby here would be a big enough cash boost (off field earnings too) to compete with any offer Aki would receive across the ponds

Yes. That's what I was driving at. It's probably his best option. Maybe uncle Joe is not keen?

You have to be committed to learn the gameplans

Samoa are a mess at the moment but he walks into a world cup squad

[suisse]

Hopefully he chooses Samoa then. We have other centres in Ireland. They might not as good as Aki, but they're Irish.

[simonokeeffe]

Scotland in an odd position now, a couple of their recently projected players Strauss (likely) and Nel (possibly) might be off in the summer along with possibly John Hardie. Nesei Manu who was a failed project is probably off too leaving Edinburgh with glamorous project players of Michael Allen and Rory Scholes but Anton Bresler and Phil Burleigh qualifiy.

So they tied up a spot for 3 years, played for Scotland for 2 then left but can stay playing for Scotland obviously, not sure thats a good look or result really, happened with Visser and Maitland* already

[simonokeeffe]

RFU pushing for residency to go to 5 years now too, saying theyll implement that themselves if its not made a rule

looking at voting structure of the council again its going to come to whether Canada, Romania, Italy, USA vote for it for it to pass, unless one or two of Ireland, Scotland, NZ, Australia do a surprising heel turn and vote for it (needs 30/40 votes to pass)

[sunshiner1]

Nesei Manu who was a failed project is probably off too leaving Edinburgh

Really? Any word where he is going?

[CiaranIrl]

Interesting that for all the chatter from the likes of Paul kimmmage, Stander is the only nationalised player in our 40 man squad. Bealham also in there on the grandparents card.

[simonokeeffe]

Nesei Manu who was a failed project is probably off too leaving Edinburgh

Really? Any word where he is going?

He was injured most of the time, so it was a lucky move financially. Scotland but especially Edinburgh have a litany of failed projects

Bealham was also here four years or so before first cap

[Grumpy Old Man]

Interesting that for all the chatter from the likes of Paul kimmmage, Stander is the only nationalised player in our 40 man squad. Bealham also in there on the grandparents card.

Kimmage will say it's due to the success of his campaign!

[Munsterboy]

Interesting that for all the chatter from the likes of Paul kimmmage, Stander is the only nationalised player in our 40 man squad. Bealham also in there on the grandparents card.

Kimmage will say it's due to the success of his campaign!

Course it will be. That rambling piece he wrote about how he helped Stephen Roche to win a world championship made all the difference.