Eddie Will Find Tonga Give Focus To His Men
The Rugby Paper|September 22, 2019
England play their first match of the World Cup today against a Tongan team that will be strong, aggressive and direct but it should be the perfect game for Eddie Jones to start England’s campaign.
Eddie Will Find Tonga Give Focus To His Men

The Pacific Island teams play some of the most aggressive rugby on the planet but are always at a disadvantage simply because, by losing so many players to teams across the world, they can never field a first choice team. Not just their star players, but also many of the bread and butter players you need to build and develop a strong international squad.

Unfortunately, the disparity in funding across the rugby world means that unlike any of the Tier 1 nation players, those from the Tier 2 countries playing in our leagues will have to make a choice. Whether to take a massive cut in salary to play for their home countries at the World Cup and potentially lose their jobs, or remain at the clubs to play in our leagues.

The double whammy is that rather than answering the call to represent their country, if they stay and qualify (under world rugby residency rules) they can end up getting paid a small fortune to go to the World Cup and could also play against their own country.

In this current commercial rugby world, the reasons for playing international rugby have become more complicated. Until the game went professional the ultimate achievement in the game was to play for your country. Clubs wanted their players to represent their countries and put no obstacles in the way, in fact encouraging players on the journey to international, but now it’s different.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2019 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2019 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE RUGBY PAPER مشاهدة الكل
Army leave it late to regain trophy
The Rugby Paper

Army leave it late to regain trophy

MOMENTS and minutes change matches in equal measure, and that is exactly what happened at Kingsholm as the British Army’s men regained the Inter Service Championship trophy.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Blues hold on in battle at the top
The Rugby Paper

Blues hold on in battle at the top

BLUES held on with their backs to their try line as they edged past the Hurricanes 31-27 to leapfrog their Kiwi rivals and move top of the table.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Harrison leads from front to seal it for Saracens
The Rugby Paper

Harrison leads from front to seal it for Saracens

SARACENS returned to Allianz PWR action with a bonus-point win at StoneX Stadium.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Coventry denied by powerful Pirates
The Rugby Paper

Coventry denied by powerful Pirates

SHEER pack power delivered two classic late rolling maul tries as Pirates maintained their quest for a second place Championship finish.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Davies the leading light in Welsh quartet
The Rugby Paper

Davies the leading light in Welsh quartet

FOUR international flyhalves took flight from Wales last year, understandably so given the alternative of staying put on contracts shredded by the rugby recession.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Rugby's holy trinity prove the difference
The Rugby Paper

Rugby's holy trinity prove the difference

SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life as an “unsmiling giant”; Martin Johnson was rarely anything other than “beetle-browed”; and Billy Vunipola, easier to stop with an elephant gun than he is with a Taser according to recent evidence from a late-night bar in Mallorca, will forever be known as “the man who shamed the shirt he wasn’t wearing”.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Tbilisi win was key - Skivington
The Rugby Paper

Tbilisi win was key - Skivington

GEORGE Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester turned their season around.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Scarlets pay price for lack of discipline
The Rugby Paper

Scarlets pay price for lack of discipline

ULSTER gave their URC play-off hopes a major boost as they capitalised on indiscipline from the hosts to secure maximum points in Llanelli.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
James at his best as Sale keep in the race
The Rugby Paper

James at his best as Sale keep in the race

SAM James might be departing for pastures new but Sale’s Mr Dependable produced a nigh on immaculate performance at full-back as they continue to battle for a play-off place.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024
Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear
The Rugby Paper

Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear

FINN Russell scored eight points, pulled the strings for three of Bath’s tries and barely put a foot wrong in a classy display that will send shivers down the spine of their Premiership title rivals.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 12, 2024