In the latest of his exclusive
columns for FRC, Pau's Australian captain Paul Dearlove
looks
at the likely impact of another 'foreign invasion'
following the 2011 Rugby World Cup...
My advice to a player looking for
a contract in France at the end of this season (June
2011) - Lock in a two year deal!
Because come November 2011 there
will be, I believe, 40 players (perhaps more) from
the Southern Hemisphere countries looking to finish
their career (and bolster their bank balances)
somewhere exotic. It was reported this week that
Toulon have expressed interest in a number of
Wallabies and I have no doubt that numerous All
Blacks and Springboks have already received
tentative offers or are on the shopping lists of big
budget clubs. Add to this the players from Fiji and
Samoa and the number could exceed 50 (by the way,
these are two teams that could really shake up next
years RWC – particularly Samoa. In my opinion Pool D
is the pool of death – not Pool A. The Welsh must be
terrified at the prospect of facing South Africa,
Samoa and Fiji!)
This will create a trickle down
effect. Players that now fill the ranks of Top 14
clubs will move to less prestigious top flight clubs
or down to the Pro D2. Budgets will be spent chasing
the likes of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, James
O’Connor and Bakkies Botha – thus reducing the money
(and places) available for journeymen. I will go
further and say that for foreigners who are
currently plying their trade in France the problem
is even more severe. France has introduced a system
limiting the number of foreigners for 2011/2012 and
beyond (i.e. those who haven’t come through the
centre de formation - academy system) to 30% of
the 35 contracted players. Doing the math this means
each club has space for 10 foreign players. With 30
fully professional clubs in France this leaves 300
positions at best (most clubs in the Pro D2 only
have 27 to 30 professional contracts).
Now I realise not every one of
those 40 or 50 international players will want to
come to France but with the high salaries and
excellent lifestyle, it will be a popular
destination.
What effect will this exodus
have?
Let’s start with the Northern
Hemisphere. For clubs with money and for the
national federations it is a great result. TV
audiences (and the income that comes with this) will
boom. The Heineken cup will become the world’s
premier competition much as the Champions League
dominates international football. The best players
in the world will be playing in Europe.
With a higher quality domestic
competition and the exchanging of ideas will also
come a stronger six nations. This may redress the
balance of power in rugby world rankings. You only
have to look at how much stronger the Pacific Island
nations have become with most of their players
playing professionally in Europe.
What about the Southern
Hemisphere? Well, this is less positive (from their
perspective). Many of the most experienced players -
particularly the South Africans who have a core
group unlikely to compete in RWC 2015 and a weak
currency - will finish their careers overseas. For
young teams like Australia the federations will have
to consider picking players from overseas or “Carter
Clauses” (i.e. letting a player play overseas but
remain contracted to the home union).
Another reason 2012 will be such
a competitive year for contracts is that younger
players will not feel like they are damaging their
chances of playing in RWC 2015 if they play overseas
in 2012/13. That leaves them at least a season to
reestablish themselves. (On the positive side losing
many of the best and most experienced players will
open up opportunities for younger talent to
establish themselves and deepen the talent pool).
What does this mean for
journeymen (like me)? Well I’m thinking seriously
about retiring in 2012 so it is unlikely to be my
problem but for younger players, who came overseas
with aspirations of playing professionally, don’t
despair – you may end up spending a season or two
playing Super 15 instead!
Previous columns:
06.11.10:
I predict a clean sweep for the
southern hemisphere sides
30.08.10:
Rugby is dying - or at least the
Union code back home in Australia
18.08.10:
Age Shall Not Weary Them - The
Importance of Experience, Pt 3
29.07.10:
Age Shall Not Weary Them - The
Importance of Experience, Pt 2
17.07.10:
Age Shall Not Weary Them - The
Importance of Experience, Pt I
13.05.10:
"It's been a good couple of weeks - in fact
it's been a good six months"
11.09.09:
The down sides to being a professional rugby player
27.08.09:
Where do you draw the line
with cheating?
07.05.09:
The Merry Pranksters of
ProD2's Section Paloise
24.04.09:
Only four British and Irish
Lions would get in my World XV
10.04.09:
Opinions and a***holes - Stop giving the ELVs
a bum deal
26.03.09:
Home truths, and the struggle
to perform when playing away
13.03.09:
A week in the life of a professional rugby player
06.03.09:
Me and my 'lucky undies' - Why
are sportsmen superstitious?
19.02.09:
Drugs in rugby - Part II:
The 'recreational' debate
12.02.09:
Drugs in rugby - Part I:
Performance enhancing
05.02.09:
Are 'les
etrangers'
good for
French rugby?
28.01.09:
Do the French deserve
their reputation for foul play? - Part II
15.01.09:
Do the French deserve their reputation for foul
play? - Part I
08.01.09:
Is professional rugby going to be credit
crunched?
18.12.08:
When two tribes go to war -
The local derby
11.12.08:
The
game they play in heaven, but who is playing God?
05.12.08:
The Unknown Soldier - Life
as a journeyman professional in France's ProD2
