Wallabies: Changes made to eligibility laws to help Australia compete

After a winless tour of the UK in 2021 and more All Blacks, thrashings the Wallabies have made some big selection changes.

Australian selection is about to get interesting after changes to eligibility rules opened the door for overseas-based Wallabies to play for their country.

The Wallabies, Wallaroos and Australian sevens teams can now pick a maximum of three overseas players if they have played 30 or more Tests and/or given five years service to Australian rugby under changes to the so called “Giteau law”.

Coaches can also pick players if they have signed a contract to play in Australia the following year.

But it means Wallabies coach Dave Rennie may have to choose between superstars like Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete rather than being able to pick both for Tests.

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos aid the new rules were designed to help the Wallabies be more competitive on the international stage after losing eight of 15 Tests in 2021.

Previously, the “Giteau law”, named after it paved the way for France-based Matt Giteau to play in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, required 60 Tests and seven years service to Australian rugby for a player to be eligible for the Wallabies while based outside of Australia.

In the last two years Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been given several exemptions due to Covid-19, with selections swelling on last year’s UK tour.

Marinos said the amendment wouldn’t hurt the strength of Super Rugby in Australia.

Wallabies powerhouse Marika Koroibete is earning big money in Japan but could still play for the Wallabies. Picture: Toru Hanai/Getty Images

“These amendments reflect a fit-for purpose policy that will help our national teams compete at their best on the international stage across both the XVs and sevens games,” Marinos said.

“The updated policy follows extensive consideration and consultation to ensure we could find the right balance between the importance of selecting players within our domestic competition structures.

“It also allows the selection of overseas players as an exception, rather than a rule, and only if that player has made a significant contribution to the game in Australia.

“Rugby is a global sport and we recognise the challenging environment we operate within where we realise we cannot keep all players on our shores.

🇦🇺 Great news Quade! https://t.co/yKIeTN0HbT

— Wallabies (@wallabies) February 24, 2022

“This policy shows we will continue to prioritise the players that are playing in Australia.

“These will be the first group of players considered for international selection before further consideration is given to any players playing abroad.”

Several high-profile Wallabies have been lost to big-money contracts in Japan, France and England.

But Rennie can now bring in more of those players who have shifted overseas for the three-Test series against England in July, including Japan-based players Kerevi, Quade Cooper, Koroibete and Rory Arnold.

Originally published as Wallabies: Changes made to eligibility laws to help Australia compete