Levi calls for law review

New rules please: Samoa want the IRB to review the laws

Samoa captain Filipo Levi has urged the IRB to rewrite the international eligibility rules for the good of Pacific Island nations.

His plea came on the back of his side's 101-14 thrashing at the hands of New Zealand on Wednesday, a game in which Samoa shipped fifteen tries.

Samoa were without many of their first-choice players, many of whom could not secure release from their clubs in Europe.

Levi has suggested more change was needed, including allowing Pacific Island players to play for their homelands once their careers had ended with the likes of the All Blacks or Wallabies.

"It will also help if we could get a few guys from New Zealand and change a few of those laws, IRB laws, with those stand-down periods," he told Yahoo!Extra.

"It is like one country and that is it.

"You have the likes of Brad Thorn who has played for Australian league, there is no sort of consistency of playing for two countries. I know it is a different sport, but it would be good to get a bit of fairness for the island nations.

"Boys are born in New Zealand, we grow up to play for the All Blacks. But then myself, I have had another chance to play at international (level), to play for Samoa.

"It is great. But then you have a lot of other guys like Ross Filipo, guys like Mose Tuiali'i. he is playing awesome rugby but now he is going to Japan to join them, not my club but a different team.

"A lot of guys are lost in the system. It is just something that the IRB, and hopefully the New Zealand Rugby Union can push for Samoa to look forward to the future."

Levi's plea was seconded by All Black full-back Mils Muliaina, who himself was born in Samoa.

"The thing is, there is a lot of talent in Samoa. You saw out there guys you have never seen before and there were a few moments of brilliance from individuals," Muliaina said.

"If they can get the resource back there and a few expert coaches, they can go a long way.

"It's disappointing for guys like us when you see your home nation can get a lot better with help.

"Hopefully the IRB can come on board with that and help them in that way.

"You're just opening up a whole can of worms really, letting guys play for all sorts of different countries.

"You allow it for one team and all of a sudden you've got guys changing year in and year out and you don't really want that."