ARU officially open their doors to foreigners
O'Neil: Happy to see the rules relaxed
It has been on the cards for some time now but on Friday the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirmed what we already knew - Australian Super 14 sides will allow foreign players into their ranks.
A nine-man ARU Board accepted a management recommendation to lift the ban that has prevented teams from contracting any player ineligible for Wallabies selection.
There will be certain conditions surrounding the ban being lifted though.
Each franchise will be allowed to sign a 'marquee' player - a player who will not be eligible for Australian selection due to the IRB regulations that limit a player to one country of representation in their career.
As well as that each franchise will be allowed to sign a 'developing' player - a foreign player who is yet to gain international honours at any level other than age-grade. Then after three years of residency they will, as per IRB regulations, be eligible for Wallaby selection.
However each province will have the chance to sign two development players if they chose not to sign an established international. However it will not be possible to sign two established Test players instead of at least one development player.
If a franchise does sign a foreign Test star they will only be allowed to do so for a maximum of two years at a time. Added to that all Super Rugby sides wishing to sign any foreign player will need to make an application to ARU before proceeding.
This process will ensure ARU's development plans and programs are protected and enhanced by any recruitment.
"There is no doubt the injection of world class foreign players will create added interest in the Super Rugby competition," said ARU chairman Peter McGrath.
"We're also confident overseas players will be excited about the potential opportunities.
"It will not stop foreign Test players continuing their international careers outside Australia.
"We will always protect the sanctity of Regulation 9 which gives a national body first call on their eligible players.
"However, the idea that marquee players might want to come to Australia is something we should allow our Provincial teams to explore.
"French fly-half Frederic Michalak played with the Sharks in South Africa this year.
"Likewise if there are talented young players in other countries who would like to pursue their Rugby dreams in Australia and one day play for the Qantas Wallabies, then this policy change will also open the door to them."
ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill said there were precedents for foreigners playing Super Rugby with Australian teams.
"Patricio Noriega played Test Rugby for Argentina before he joined the Brumbies in the early years of professionalism and Tiaan Strauss was a Springbok captain before heading to Australia and eventually playing for the NSW Waratahs," he said.
"That was back in the 1990's when players could represent a second country once they served three years of residency.
"IRB regulations no longer allow overseas Test players that same opportunity.
"As a result, we have had the doors locked to overseas players for several years.
"However, we have increased our Super Rugby footprint from three to four teams in the past couple of seasons.
"Moving forward we are also looking to further expand Super Rugby in partnership with South Africa and New Zealand and to generate further interest in what we believe is the best competition of its kind in the world.
"Therefore, the conditions are right to relax the prohibition on foreign players."