Russia's World Cup

[Me 1]

I wish the IRB made it so that you had to speak the language of the nation to be eligible

Adam Byrnes should not be playing for Russia, he even said "us Australians" in an interview I read

I don't think it's so bad in his case, his mother spoke Russian to him when a child, he just forgot most of the language as he didn't need to use it that often. From reading this article:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/sport/5541698/Adam-Byrnes/
He is described as half Russian (Russian orthodox, celebrates Christmas in January etc.). He seems to have mainly been raised a bit like an expat, like Sergio Parisse was.

Edit: In another article I've found:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/r...to-mother-russia/story-e6frfgkf-1226095607065
He says he was fluent in Russian as a child, it just waned a bit as English took over. He also says he should be able to pick it back up quite quickly.

 

[Peat]

I wish the IRB made it so that you had to speak the language of the nation to be eligible

Adam Byrnes should not be playing for Russia, he even said "us Australians" in an interview I read

I trust a man of your intelligence sees the obvious flaw in favour of anglophone countries in your first sentence.

As for Mr Byrnes, its quite possible he sees himself as both Russian and Australian, and I see nothing wrong with that if he does.

 

[white bear]

Guys, in Russia, too many people do not like what we have in different sports (basketball (the Americans), mini-football (Brazil) ..) invite foreigners. But Burns is half Russian, his mother was Russian. He has many relatives in Russia live, with whom he mett his year.
Outside Russia, lived for more than 30 million Russian people. And among them are rugby players, so let them remember their roots and help their homeland. And if they do not have Russian passport, you have to do.
Here is another Russian from Australia. But he s already lost

http://www.sports.ru/en/others/105794908.html

 

[psychic duck]

I trust a man of your intelligence sees the obvious flaw in favour of anglophone countries in your first sentence.

I standby my statement, there are NO teams who would be hurt by that law

it would just stop stupid one off occurrences of players like Craig Gower and Adam Byrnes

there should be a rule to prevent players playing for a nation who don't speak the language

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The thing I don't like with Byrne: He only decided he was Russian when he wasn't named in the Aussie squad for the WC.
He waited until the last possible moment to declare for them (he'll be too old for Australia in the next WC, so wouldn't be named then)
He declared himself after the Churchill Cup, even, so realistically he took a spot from someone else who'd trained with the squad etc. whereas he just waltzed in a few days before they went to NZ

 

[Saintjay]

I wish the IRB made it so that you had to speak the language of the nation to be eligible

Adam Byrnes should not be playing for Russia, he even said "us Australians" in an interview I read

Just wondering how many of the Wales team speak welsh. I am sure a few do but not all from the interviews I have seen on TV some of the players only speak English.
Then you have to ask what language should you have to speak to play for Ireland and Scotland.

On that note would you include coaches in that equation, I am now wondering if Gatland can speak Welsh.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just wondering how many of the Wales team speak welsh. I am sure a few do but not all from the interviews I have seen on TV some of the players only speak English.

The vast majority do. I think they said all the backs that played vs England pre-WC spoke Welsh, and most forwards do (I think just Faletau didn't?)
They do their post match interviews in English because they're on BBC/Sky/ESPN/whatever, if you watch the games on S4/C you rarely see a player speaking English

 

[psychic duck]

Just wondering how many of the Wales team speak welsh. I am sure a few do but not all from the interviews I have seen on TV some of the players only speak English.
Then you have to ask what language should you have to speak to play for Ireland and Scotland.

On that note would you include coaches in that equation, I am now wondering if Gatland can speak Welsh.

speak one of the official languages of course, for example for Wales it is either English or Welsh

 

[Saintjay]

speak one of the official languages of course, for example for Wales it is either English or Welsh

That's a fare point, I do like the Wales players speaking welsh. Watching Jamie Roberts switch between the two the other day raised a smile.

 

[Peat]

I standby my statement, there are NO teams who would be hurt by that law

it would just stop stupid one off occurrences of players like Craig Gower and Adam Byrnes

there should be a rule to prevent players playing for a nation who don't speak the language

Fair enough if you're happy with this. Me, I'd live with a scenario that gave England far greater latitude in selecting players than other countries, but wouldn't think it was particularly fair.

I look forwards to the GCSE examiners waiting pitchside to test the dubious cases prior to entering the pitch.