Just what the licence system was made for...

[King Viking]

...calling up 30-year-old Tongans to the England team 

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/07/22/RUGBYL_England.html

[Neil]

With a back row available that includes - Tomkins, Ellis, Jones-Buchanan, O'Loughlin, Sinfield, Westwood, and potensial younger players like Ben Harrison etc i would be VERY suprised and also very disappointed if Manu got picked in the 17... In fact i'd be astonished and picket the RFL...


Fly

[Peter]

With a back row available that includes - Tomkins, Ellis, Jones-Buchanan, O'Loughlin, Sinfield, Westwood, and potensial younger players like Ben Harrison etc i would be VERY suprised and also very disappointed if Manu got picked in the 17... In fact i'd be astonished and picket the RFL...


Fly

Flying Picket?

[Spelly]

I might be thick, but I just totally can't understand how a player's conscience would allow him to play for other than one nation!

Manu (proudly I hope) wore the Tongan colours, whilst we were getting stuffed off the Convicts and Kiwis, so what / where (apart from of course, summat starting with "m" and ending with "y") is his motivation to suddenly be one of Mac's Men?

If it comes to pass, he won't be the first, and regretfully, he won't be the last, but...................

IT'S WRONG!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.

Of one nation till I die!

[RB]

...calling up 30-year-old Tongans to the England team 

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/07/22/RUGBYL_England.html

I just don't get this at all.
He is 30 years old , not British (English) and not good enough.
My assumption is that we are not good enough to live with the Aussies and the Kiwis at the moment and so should be buliding for the future in anycase.
O'Louglin, Westwood, Ellis, Burgess, Harrison, Tomkins , Sinfield, Wsterman, Ablet, JJB, Tickle , Washbrook, Wilkin all younger and better and that's just off the top of my head.
I'd even take Liam Farrell before him at least it's looking to the future.
So much for Steve McNamara's 5 year plan to rule the world or looking to the 2013 World Cup.

[Dan]

McNamara took over as head coach of Bradford and sent them on an 8 game losing run before being 'let go' before the end of the season.  He has never been head coach at any other club.  Not exactly an outstanding candidate to take a side over to Australia for the 4 nations. I also can't understand Manu's selection, makes no real sense.

[manxviking]

It tends to back up my theory that SL is simply not producing good enough players. If we are going to rely on players like Manu, there doesn't seem much point sending a squad for the four nations.

And I agree with Spelly. I don't believe it is right that any player can represent more than one country in his life. Should be where you were born as the only criterion.

[Spelly]

It tends to back up my theory that SL is simply not producing good enough players. If we are going to rely on players like Manu, there doesn't seem much point sending a squad for the four nations.

And I agree with Spelly. I don't believe it is right that any player can represent more than one country in his life. Should be where you were born as the only criterion.

Personally, I'd allow the "parents rule". I know I'm talking tennis here, and not RL, but they don't come any more American than John McEnroe, yet he was born in Germany, whilst his dad was stationed over there. But to the grandparents is taking it too far though.

It you're Tongan, you're Tongan forever, like a Yank is always a Yank, and once a Brit, a Brit you remain. But try telling that to the RFL! 

Spelly.

[Peter]

Personally, I'd allow the "parents rule". I know I'm talking tennis here, and not RL, but they don't come any more American than John McEnroe, yet he was born in Germany, whilst his dad was stationed over there. But to the grandparents is taking it too far though.

It you're Tongan, you're Tongan forever, like a Yank is always a Yank, and once a Brit, a Brit you remain. But try telling that to the RFL! 

Spelly.

And once you have played for one country you should not be able to play for another.

[RB]

Personally, I'd allow the "parents rule". I know I'm talking tennis here, and not RL, but they don't come any more American than John McEnroe, yet he was born in Germany, whilst his dad was stationed over there. But to the grandparents is taking it too far though.

It you're Tongan, you're Tongan forever, like a Yank is always a Yank, and once a Brit, a Brit you remain. But try telling that to the RFL! 

Spelly.

Pat Richards was a good case.
Asked by Brian Carney on Super Leagues Super Men why he was playing for Ireland - said My family is Irish , My mum and dad are from Dublin, my sister was born in Dublin I still have lots of family in Ireland and I feel Irish - asked would he play for Great Britain ( and Ireland ) - No

[manxviking]

I was being a bit simple there. Where you were brought up must have some bearing - I mean if you were born on St Eustatius but schooled in the UK, that really does make you British! To be fair, it was the country hopping I am totally against. He's represented Tonga, that should be it. But then, I do find international RL a bit of a joke in all honesty. I mean the Horne brothers qualify for Scotland because their father is from the Isle of Man! Work that one out!

[Dan]

One of the few things football has over rugby league, once you have palyed an international for one side thats it you have to stick with them for the rest of your career.  Playing for Tonga and then England or New Zealand and then Samoa shouldn't be allowed in my opinion.

[greggs69]

Im not condoning this for one minute but dont the Aussies and NZ both do this already and have done for a few years?  Pick people from other nationalities that is.

[Spelly]

One of the few things football has over rugby league, once you have palyed an international for one side thats it you have to stick with them for the rest of your career.  Playing for Tonga and then England or New Zealand and then Samoa shouldn't be allowed in my opinion.

I realise it's at different levels, but dodn't Ryan Giggs play for England under-summats, before playing for the Welsh "first" team?

Spelly.

[King Viking]

He played for England Schoolboys (as he went to school in England - anyone with any nationality could play for them if they went to school in England), so strictly speaking didn't play for an England national representative team.