Loxton and Jarvis not Irish qualified

[Draggs]

Connacht shocked by doubts over duo's Irish eligibility

New Connacht signings Matthew Jarvis and James Loxton appear ineligible to play for Ireland under current International Rugby Board regulations.

The revelation has come as a major surprise to Connacht officials who signed the duo on the basis that they were Irish-qualified.

Both have played for the Wales U20s - the country's designated second team.

Players who take part in a match for a country's second senior side are not normally allowed to change allegiance.

However, the players and Connacht believed that they were Irish-qualified because they have not represented either Wales A or the Wales Sevens team.

Welsh RFU officials noticed the qualification anomaly when they saw Connacht's press release about the signings on Monday and informed the Irish province on Tuesday.

Connacht officials have contacted the IRFU and the Irish governing body is believed to have sought clarification from the IRB on the matter.

If the IRB confirms that the two men are not Irish-qualified, their moves to Connacht are likely to be put in doubt.

Jarvis, who can play at 10, 12 or 15, has been playing for the Ospreys, while utility back Loxton has been signed from the Cardiff Blues.

"I've enjoyed my time with Cardiff but once I had the opportunity to play for Connacht in Ireland, it was one I couldn't refuse," said Loxton.

"Connacht have big plans for the future and I want to be part of that vision."

Added Loxton: "They play an open, expansive and exciting brand of rugby which will suit my game as a wing/full-back.

"My mother was born in Crossmolina, County Mayo, I go on holiday there every summer and I'm delighted at the prospect of playing professional rugby where my ancestors were born and bred."

BBC Sports

I lol'ed.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Hahaha well ....

 

[coonor]

I feel sorry for them. I don't really think this will affect Ireland as we already have enough backs in the Leinster and Ulster academies. They seem to have gone to Ireland with the intentions of building an international career and if this is not going to be possible then I would expect them to review there contracts.

 

[Draggs]

Hahaha well ....

I don't believe they (The IRFU) will want to try and turn this over either. As I said on the rumour mill thread, it would render all A sides (or whatever a nations second side is) no longer valid for nationality.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I don't believe they (The IRFU) will want to try and turn this over either. As I said on the rumour mill thread, it would render all A sides (or whatever a nations second side is) no longer valid for nationality.

Could be interesting though!

 

[dullonien]

"Connacht have big plans for the future and I want to be part of that vision."

I'm sure if this signing falls through, Saracens will be interested with quotes like that coming from him.

On a more serious note. The players really should have been informed of this, as they have unknowingly entered into a kind of contract that is now impossible to get out of. All players that have represented Wales at U-20 level since the A-side was dispanded are only Welsh qualified, sure many didn't know that!

 

[Draggs]

Could be interesting though!

It would indeed. If it were to be overturned, then the Wolfhounds and Saxons (among others) would no longer count. Going with this idea, then would players already capped at for an A side (no higher) be free, or only future players. Fionn Carr could then qualify for us if he goes to play for the turks.

 

[durbutter]

Sher of course they're Welsh! Have they any Irish connections at all?!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I'm sure if this signing falls through, Saracens will be interested with quotes like that coming from him.

On a more serious note. The players really should have been informed of this, as they have unknowingly entered into a kind of contract that is now impossible to get out of. All players that have represented Wales at U-20 level since the A-side was dispanded are only Welsh qualified, sure many didn't know that!

In the IRB Eligibility Laws it says something ...

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/0/060924gfirbregulation8_883.pdf

To tired to read through it, swear it is in there.

 

[Draggs]

In the IRB Eligibility Laws it says something ...

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/0/060924gfirbregulation8_883.pdf

To tired to read through it, swear it is in there.

Could they try to go with the angle that while Wales' side was a 'senior' side, Ireland's (or whoever) side (U20) is not senior as they have an A side?

Hang on,

He is selected to represent a Union's senior Touring Squad on an
International Tour which includes an International Match or Matches
approved by the IRB and is present at any fifteen-a-side Match
played on that International Tour either as a replacement, substitute
or a playing member of a team selected from the Union's senior
Touring Squad and has, at the time of the Match, reached the age of
majority

He played for us in the World Championship, which is an 'International Tour'.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Goes back to the next senior Welsh side ... that be the U20, however if they bring the 'A' side back in the Summer ... this deal could be back on!

 

[Draggs]

Goes back to the next senior Welsh side ... that be the U20, however if they bring the 'A' side back in the Summer ... this deal could be back on!

But would it nullify past 'second side' caps? It would make sense if once the A side is resurrected all previous U20 caps hold their value, but future ones do not.
So much bureaucracy...

 

[Conal]

i know its the welsh second side but it usnt a "A" team its an age group team it is clear these lads had no idea (to an extent at least) the where tied to wales by there age group caps.
i know that people will rant about if connacht appeal to this they would be damaging all a teams cap value but wales do not have an a team. wales do not compete at a level due to the fact they dont have a team therefore in my eyes how can we treat age group caps as A team caps
so lets say scotland for a year scrapped all there teams down to u14 or somthing stupid and capped tons of half english/ half welsh half irish people then next year reinstated there teams as next senior team should all thoses capped by tied to scotland??
seems silly to me to use age group caps as equivlent to a caps

 

[Draggs]

i know its the welsh second side but it usnt a "A" team its an age group team it is clear these lads had no idea (to an extent at least) the where tied to wales by there age group caps.
i know that people will rant about if connacht appeal to this they would be damaging all a teams cap value but wales do not have an a team. wales do not compete at a level due to the fact they dont have a team therefore in my eyes how can we treat age group caps as A team caps
so lets say scotland for a year scrapped all there teams down to u14 or somthing stupid and capped tons of half english/ half welsh half irish people then next year reinstated there teams as next senior team should all thoses capped by tied to scotland??
seems silly to me to use age group caps as equivlent to a caps

I think something like the Scotland scenario you described would be examined by the IRB. Also, U14 wouldn't count as 'age of maturity' I believe.
18 I would imagine, so U20's would be the only other team besides an A side that would count.

 

[Conal]

I think something like the Scotland scenario you described would be examined by the IRB. Also, U14 wouldn't count as 'age of maturity' I believe.
18 I would imagine, so U20's would be the only other team besides an A side that would count.

fair enough
just to me it seems like the players didnt know thats all just sems a bit unfair on them

 

[Draggs]

fair enough
just to me it seems like the players didnt know thats all just sems a bit unfair on them

It might be, but negligence is not valid defence in courts or otherwise.

 

[Peat]

Failure to inform might be though. Seems clear that neither player realised they were solely tied to Wales by this.

Frankly, I hope this is repealed asap. An u20 side is not a senior side. The clue is in the name. If you don't have an A team or the like, you don't have a second senior team and thats it. There is an argument that can be made that u20 is senior, and old enough for players to tie themselves to, and thats fair enough but that should go for all u20 sides - hand back the Ellis brothers ye thieving buggers! I think there is at least some ground for challenging it on the grounds that u20 is not senior. And even if the eligibility of the players is not changed, this loophole should be made consistent.

That said, this is still pretty bloody funny.

 

[Draggs]

What loophole?
A country has two 'national sides' that players can be locked in from. If it is an A side, that is fine. U20's is also fine, as it is passed the age of majority. If it went for all U20 sides, then A sides should be made invalid.

Thieving? Riki Flutey, Shontayne Hape- two great English names there.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Failure to inform might be though. Seems clear that neither player realised they were solely tied to Wales by this.

Frankly, I hope this is repealed asap. An u20 side is not a senior side. The clue is in the name. If you don't have an A team or the like, you don't have a second senior team and thats it. There is an argument that can be made that u20 is senior, and old enough for players to tie themselves to, and thats fair enough but that should go for all u20 sides - hand back the Ellis brothers ye thieving buggers! I think there is at least some ground for challenging it on the grounds that u20 is not senior. And even if the eligibility of the players is not changed, this loophole should be made consistent.

That said, this is still pretty bloody funny.

Might find one of the Ellis brothers actually played for Wales before England

 

[lucky number 7]

Connacht shocked by doubts over duo's Irish eligibility

BBC Sports
"had the opportunity to play for Connacht in Ireland,"

Its good that he clarified this ...