Overseas imports taking heavy toll on 'home' talent
The growing influence of overseas players in British, Irish and French rugby in recent years is revealed in this year's Six Nations squads according to Peter Bills in The Independent.
"In almost every country, there is an alarming dearth of quality players in key positions, caused in part by clubs and provinces recruiting overseas stars. The warning signs were posted a few years ago -- as soon as rugby turned professional and countries like France and England, in particular, signed players from the southern hemisphere. Ireland and Wales followed suit and continue to do so, with two of the major Irish provincial sides buying South African tight-head props.
"The early warning signs of the long-term consequences of this policy were waved aside by the people doing the recruiting. "They can only help develop our young players ... they'll bring good habits and teach us valuable lessons," were some of the messages delivered to soothe furrowed brows. In a sense, they did. But they also did something else, deny places to up-and-coming players who needed match experience at the highest level on a regular basis."
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