Wallabies to allow players to move overseas
Players can join foreign clubs temporarily and remain eligible for tests
Australia is to allow centrally contracted players to move overseas temporarily from 2016 and still retain their test eligibility for at least part of the season, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Thursday.
Australia, like many other rugby nations, have increasingly become embroiled in a battle to retain their best players in the face of lucrative contracts on offer from Japanese and European clubs.
Wallabies Ben Mowen, Nick Cummins, Kane Douglas and Hugh McMeniman have all elected to leave Australia to play overseas this year, depleting the talent pool available to Australia coach Ewen McKenzie.
Overseas contracts became even more attractive to Australian players after the ARU introduced pay cuts last year and some feared a wholesale exodus of top talent after the 2015 World Cup in England.
“None of the changes will alter Australian rugby’s policy that only players who are playing in Australia will be eligible to play for the Wallabies,” read an ARU media release.
“It does however provide greater flexibility in the contracting process by allowing select players the opportunity to become eligible for test representation at different points of the year.”
