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World Rugby Eligibility Law changes are not popular in Uruguay. In an interview with Uruguay rugby expert, Ignacio Chans, Esteban Meneses slams World Rugby’s eligibility law changes which enable players to change countries. Players can now play for two countries at different Rugby World Cups.
Chans asked Meneses what he thought about the state of international rugby. He did so by pointing out that while, on the one hand, teams work hard, on the other hand World Rugby made a decision that tells Tonga it can select All Blacks. He also pointed out that against this decision is the continuation that Georgia cannot play in the u20 Six Nations despite being above Scotland and Italy.
Meneses raised the point of what test teams truly are and whether test teams are representing a nation. He firmly believes that test teams ought to be representative selections of a country.
He went on to say that eligibility laws threaten the identity of each country. He made the point that if Tonga has problems in being competitive then World Rugby can help Tonga to better develop players progressively rather than by doing what they are which he terms as ‘backwards.’
Meneses believes that eligibility laws are unfair. He believes that homegrown teams are victims of the system. He asked “Why aren’t Uruguay or Georgia rewarded if they do things well?” In other words, Uruguay and Georgia are punished for being productive while Tonga and Samoa capture elite test players from rivals and are rewarded for it.
Uruguay faced Tonga in November 2022. The South Americans were entirely homegrown. Every player was born and raised in Uruguay. In comparison, Tonga took to the field with All Blacks Vaea Fifita, Augustine Pulu, George Moala and Malakai Fekitoa all starting. Fellow New Zealanders Zane Kapeli, Sam Moli, Ben Tameifuna, William Havili and Anzelo Tuitavuki also all started for Tonga as did Australian Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Tonga will compete in Pool B of Rugby World Cup 2023. The group also contains Ireland, Romania, Scotland and South Africa. Tonga will be advantaged more so than the lower ranked Romania.
Spain originally qualified not Romania. World Rugby disqualified Spain after Gavin van den Berg played 30 minutes for Spain in two matches in which Los Leones won effortlessly. The Spain vs Netherlands fixtures were unsubstantial games. Moreover, van den Berg lied to World Rugby but continues his rugby career.
