SANZAR to reconsider signing policy and procedures for recruitment of overseas players
In the wake of recent criticism about foreign players included Super Rugby teams, South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby (SANZAR) has agreed to review its signing policies and procedures that govern how Super Rugby franchises recruit the overseas
player.
SANZAR Chief Executive Officer, Greg Peters, has confirmed the start of the review at the end of the ongoing 2011 Super Rugby championship.
The criticism has intensified following the inclusion of the 2011 Aviva Premiership winner Saracens’ hooker Schalk Brits in the Stormers side for their 2011 Super Rugby semi-final against the Crusaders at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town on Saturday, July 2.
Peters said, “We will have a look at this (overseas player recruitment) at the end of the season. We review a lot of things and maybe we could look at players being in the round robin for a minimum number of games.”
SANZAR has to face the public and Super Rugby franchises particularly as Sharks and later the Stormers have opted to include overseas player to play games for them in the crucial stages of the Tournament. Sharks were the first to exploit the shortcomings
of the existing policy to recruit overseas players when they signed the former French international fly half, Frederic Michalak.
Frederic Michalak signing for Sharks came a week after he had represented the Barbarians against England at Twickenham in June. Michalak played a very important role in the Barbaas first victory of their summer 2011 campaign.
After his signing with Sharks, Frederic Michalak played a couple of last round games for the South African Super Rugby franchise. Peters confirmed that SANZAR has no objection with the inclusion of Michalak as he has signed a full time contract with the
Sharks.
However, the Stormers move to recruit Schalk Brits as their makeshift hooker is under intense scrutiny. Stormers acquired the services of Brits on loan from the Saracens following injuries to their first choice and replacement hookers.
Peters confirmed that the Stormers too had justification for their move to sign Brits particularly because of injuries to their first choice hookers, Pieter Louw, Duane Vermuelen and Baby Boks hooker Siya Kolisi. Kolisi was called back from the Baby Boks
squad for the 2011 Junior World Championship but he later sustained several injuries during training with the senior squad.
Peters has confirmed that the SANZAR will take steps to remove the loopholes of the recruitment policy. He has also hinted that the SANZAR might develop a recruitment policy similar to that of the ITM Cup. He said, “We could insist that a player has to be
registered with a franchise by a certain date - say, May 1, just as we do in the ITM Cup. I'm not saying that is what SANZAR will do but it is the sort of thing we could look at."
SANZAR will have to move fast to rectify the matter before fans and Super Rugby franchises become disgruntled.
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