Magic Superbeetle wrote:The majority of NSW players dont meet the elite sportsperson requirements to gain a visa. I believe they have to have played a minimum number of NRL games/ international games.
So how did Wigan sign Field, french and that other prop who has never played first grade?
Joined: Sep 06 2005 Posts: 1995 Location: Newcastle, Hunter Valley
There should be a lot of UK players learning their trade in the NRL lower grades if you want to develop halves. Nearly all NRL clubs have a heap of kids from NZ and even some from PNG and Fiji, and they all get as good a grounding as any Australian kids. This year my local NRL side, Newcastle Knights, have given 2 teenage English kids, Bailey Hodgson and Dom Young, a chance, and they have both been fantastic. Bailey's younger brother has enrolled in Hunter Sports High, one of the best Rugby League schools in the world, and has been named in the Knights under 17s squad for 2022.
It should also be possible for 21 year old kids from NRL squads to continue their career in the ESL. ESL teams would be so much better off if they signed some of the 30 or 40 players a year who fall just short of NRL contracts, rather than 30 year olds who were great players 3 or 4 years ago.
Joined: Oct 13 2004 Posts: 36101 Location: Poodle Power!
TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:This is what I don’t get. Let’s be honest, the nsw cup is the same level as SL and there must be heaps of players we could sign from there that would be great in SL
You really are ignorant. It's nothing to do with quality, it's the UK Govs visa restrictions and RFL regulations. Most of those players are probably good enough for SL, if good enough overseas players are how you see the British game improving However few will meet the criteria to get a visa.
TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:This is what I don’t get. Let’s be honest, the nsw cup is the same level as SL and there must be heaps of players we could sign from there that would be great in SL
You really are ignorant. It's nothing to do with quality, it's the UK Govs visa restrictions and RFL regulations. Most of those players are probably good enough for SL, if good enough overseas players are how you see the British game improving However few will meet the criteria to get a visa.
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However few will meet the criteria to get a visa.
