Concerns are growing World Rugby’s latest eligibility changes are leading to more young players being poached by England and New Zealand.
Coaches in Wales have expressed concerns that amendments to Regulation 8 has opened the door to a talent drain through expensive English public schools.
The governing body have loosened their eligibility criteria doer national selection, with players no longer required to complete 60 months of unbroken residency.
Teenage hooker Kepueli Tuipulotu, born in Pontypool and educated at Harrow School, is the latest player that Wales have lost to the English system.
One Welsh source said the changes will ‘screw us’ as the proud rugby nation tries to get back on track after a disastrous year of results for Warren Gatland.
The new regulations state that, from 1st August 2024, ‘rugby registration over a 60-month period will need to be demonstrated via registration with a rugby body, including a national union or club.
Wales are among nations concerned eligibility rules are leading to more players being poached
Teenage hooker Kepueli Tuipulotu is the latest player Wales have lost to the English system
‘The amendment was approved by the Council following extensive consultation with unions and players and is aimed to address challenges that arise for unions within territories where recording entry and exit from a country is not straightforward.’
Fears are shared in the Pacific Islands that schools in New Zealand could find ways to work the system to benefit the All Blacks, at the expense of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Harlequins target an ineligible future England star
Harlequins have expressed an interest in signing young English lock Junior Kpoku from Racing 92.
Kpoku, the 6ft8in teenager who was born in the UK, is under contract in Paris until 2027 but he has already been sounded out by England coach Steve Borthwick.
Speaking to Mail Sport last week, Kpoku said: ‘Re-signing for Racing doesn’t mean I’ve binned off playing for Steve Borthwick. It’s about how I can improve here so that I will be at the standard he wants me to be at, so I don’t need to play catch-up when I go back to the UK – if that’s next year, the year after, or the year after that.’
If Kpoku does activate a break-clause in his contract, it seems Harlequins are already the front-runners for his signature.
Harlequins have expressed an interest in signing English lock Junior Kpoku from Racing 92
Kpoku told Mail Sport he wants to improve to the standard Steve Borthwick needs him to be at
Premiership clubs get into the festive spirit
Christmas festivities are underway at Premiership clubs, with one member of Sale’s squad gifting a real-life budgie in the team’s Secret Santa.
Northampton Saints held a carol service, while Danny Care and Marcus Smith got into the spirit by going to watch Cinderella at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
But perhaps the merriest sight of all will be Newcastle’s director of rugby serving the turkey at the team’s Christmas lunch on Thursday afternoon.
Danny Care and Marcus Smith watched Cinderella at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden
Calls to review Champions Cup broadcast strategy
Organisers of the Champions Cup are under pressure to review their broadcast strategy after a lack of cut-through to traditional TV rugby viewers.
Some of the viewing figures distributed to the clubs have shown average TV audiences of under 15,000.
However, Premier Sports are confident they have hit their targets, insisting the TV figures are misrepresentative because the majority of their viewers come through streaming platforms which are not accounted for in the metrics.
After the opening rounds, there is a increasing pressure on EPCR to re-introduce a free-to-air offering.
Business as usual for Gatland
It has been business as usual for Warren Gatland, despite the speculation around his future as Wales coach.
The WRU have commissioned an independent review after the national team suffered 12 consecutive Test defeats.
But Gatland has continued with scouting exercises at the regions’ Challenge Cup fixtures, whilst he was also present at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Stadium, alongside the likes of Craig Bellamy and Joe Calzaghe.
Warren Gatland have carried on as usual despite speculation over the Wales boss’ future
The arrival of Ilona Maher should lead to a record attendance for Bristol Women next month
Bristol set for record crowd after Maher arrival
The arrival of American rugby star Ilona Maher has helped Bristol Women sell 5,000 tickets for their fixture against Gloucester Hartpury on January 5.
It is on track to be a record attendance for a women’s fixture at Ashton Gate, with Maher in line to make her UK debut, just weeks after finishing runner up on Dancing with the Stars in Los Angeles.
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