Australian Rugby Union Eases Wallabies Eligibility Rules For Overseas-Based Players

The Australian Rugby Union "is ready to play hardball with any foreign club that tries to stop Australian recruits from playing for the Wallabies following the groundbreaking decision to allow overseas players to be considered for selection," according to Rupert Guinness of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The ARU said that "it would draw on World Rugby's regulation nine that grants the national federations the right to call upon their overseas-based players for Test duties." ARU CEO Bill Pulver believes that the Wallabies "will have a stronger squad, and that the demand for Australian players may even diminish, if foreign clubs know the ARU will enforce regulation nine, thus allowing a greater depth of player talent to remain in Australia." Pulver said that "the ARU will also draw on regulation nine for those Australian players on flexible contracts." Pulver: "If we have to, yes. You are going to see a greater willingness to deploy regulation nine" (SMH, 4/22).