Rugby Australia to review Test restrictions on overseas players

SYDNEY: Rugby Australia is set to review rules barring most overseas-based players from representing the Wallabies, officials said, as they seek to rebuild the team after a disappointing World Cup.

Under the so-called “Giteau’s Law”, introduced in 2015, foreign-based players can only represent Australia if they have at least 60 Test caps. That means the likes of star centre Samu Kerevi, locks Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold, and hooker Tolu Latu are no longer eligible to wear the Wallabies jersey after accepting lucrative contracts abroad in the wake of the Japan World Cup.

The talent exodus is a problem as the Wallabies, who were knocked out of the World Cup by England in the quarter-finals, look to bounce back under newly appointed coach Dave Rennie. But a change to the law is also controversial, as it would also be likely to weaken Australia´s Super Rugby sides.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said the law would be part of a wide-ranging review currently being conducted into the Wallabies disappointing year.

“That will come off the back of the outputs of the review, there´s no rush for us to have a look at that,” she said Wednesday, adding that it would take into consideration what other countries were doing. New Zealand has a similar policy to Australia´s, but South Africa scrapped Test selection restrictions earlier this year and went on to win the World Cup.