Exodus 2018
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@kiwimurph Hmmm, I'd be really keen to find out more about that dispensation, such as under which rule(s) and what were the reasons for granting dispensation.
You'd think that - under Reg 8.12 - he first has to make use of the Olympic loophole and play during 5 legs of the 2018-2019 World Sevens Series for the Aussie 7s team.
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It's called the Gosper Rule.
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@majorrage The first country that plays the Wallabies squad in which he is named, would definitely have to raise the issue with World Rugby, whichever tier they're from, or ask for proof of eligibility (e.g., a written dispensation from WR).
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@antipodean said in Exodus 2018:
It's called the Gosper Rule.
Did they ask for the special dispensation by hounding him on Twitter?
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Off the top of my head I think that there is an avenue to appeal eligibility if the 'locking' reasons are light. eg minimal game time at a low level game.
I'm not sure about Pulu's gametime for Niue but am guessing it would have been at the Welly Sevens a number of years back. Maybe it was a short appearance?I was also bemused about his shift but this now makes sense if Australian rugby has trawled for eligible players and made him an offer.
Edit: not much online with a quick search but I found one reference to him playing 3 tournaments for them - 2 in Welly and a Gold Coast one
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
@crucial I can't find a dispensation rule for minimum game time. Do you know where to find it?
.My search also came up with one of the top 10 tries of the round on YouTube.
So it doesn't look like it is a case of 10 mins on the field as a replacement hindering his career. He made a conscious decision to represent Niue. Would be very interested to see/understand the dispensation as it seems that some kind of 'minnows don't count' criteria has been enacted.
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
As could be expected, all the advocates of allowing capped Pacific players change eligibility to the country of their heritage are up in arms after the news about Pulu's alleged Aussie eligibility.
True dat!
It does highlight the issues in trying to solve the perceived problem of eligibility when they work the other way.
Pulu was born in the US and the US has previously questioned whether he could play for them. He is Niuean by heritage and has played for them. Somewhere along the line he also gained Australian citizenship (which had to be a deliberate application on his part as he wasn't born there) but has also spent his career playing in NZ for NZ sides while residing here full time.
Of all of these things, as far as we know, his Oz ties are the 'lightest' yet somehow the so called strict WR regulations can offer a dispensation there.
If the Niue lock is cut he presumably qualifies for NZ, Oz, Niue, USA and by some accounts Tonga. Oz obviously offers the best combo of earnings and international eligibility.
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@crucial said in Exodus 2018:
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
As could be expected, all the advocates of allowing capped Pacific players change eligibility to the country of their heritage are up in arms after the news about Pulu's alleged Aussie eligibility.
True dat!
It does highlight the issues in trying to solve the perceived problem of eligibility when they work the other way.
Pulu was born in the US and the US has previously questioned whether he could play for them. He is Niuean by heritage and has played for them. Somewhere along the line he also gained Australian citizenship (which had to be a deliberate application on his part as he wasn't born there) but has also spent his career playing in NZ for NZ sides while residing here full time.
> Of all of these things, as far as we know, his Oz ties are the 'lightest' yet somehow the so called strict WR regulations can offer a dispensation there.
If the Niue lock is cut he presumably qualifies for NZ, Oz, Niue, USA and by some accounts Tonga. Oz obviously offers the best combo of earnings and international eligibility.
Arguable. Aren't both is parents Aussies?
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@majorrage said in Exodus 2018:
@crucial said in Exodus 2018:
@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
As could be expected, all the advocates of allowing capped Pacific players change eligibility to the country of their heritage are up in arms after the news about Pulu's alleged Aussie eligibility.
True dat!
It does highlight the issues in trying to solve the perceived problem of eligibility when they work the other way.
Pulu was born in the US and the US has previously questioned whether he could play for them. He is Niuean by heritage and has played for them. Somewhere along the line he also gained Australian citizenship (which had to be a deliberate application on his part as he wasn't born there) but has also spent his career playing in NZ for NZ sides while residing here full time.
> Of all of these things, as far as we know, his Oz ties are the 'lightest' yet somehow the so called strict WR regulations can offer a dispensation there.
If the Niue lock is cut he presumably qualifies for NZ, Oz, Niue, USA and by some accounts Tonga. Oz obviously offers the best combo of earnings and international eligibility.
Arguable. Aren't both is parents Aussies?
Thanks, Wasn't aware of that (or when/how long he lived there). Do you have a link for that?
Not disputing, just want to check it out.
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@majorrage said in Exodus 2018:
@crucial not sure where I read it, news articles I'm looking at now just say he's qualifired for Aus through parentage
That makes more sense considering that he was born in the US and has lived in NZ since age 3. Must have applied for Oz Citizenship by descent despite hardly living there (if at all)
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@booboo said in Exodus 2018:
@mikedogz said in Exodus 2018:
Toni Pulu to Brumbies. Not NZ eligible but an NZ product.
Locked in for Niue?
You'd think the big NH clubs would come knocking. Not much danger of losing him to test duty.
So ... apparently not. Anyone got any insight into what dispensation could be granted?
Toni Pulu will be eligible to represent the Wallabies, thanks to a dispensation granted by World Rugby.
Pulu holds an Australian passport and despite his history with Niue, a Rugby Australia spokesman told Fox Sports that World Rugby had cleared him to play for Australia if picked by coach Michael Cheika.
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2018:
@kiwimurph under what rules has he been granted dispensation, odd decision?
I see that's been brought up ...
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So Aus have poached a winger that barely makes a NZ Super team starting XV. Are we worried about Aussie's depth?
Really want to know how he switches though. Utter crap if he is allowed to.
Wiki shows him representing Nuie over 3 years (2009-2011), mentions 3 tournaments (seemingly confirming @Crucial's posts above), when he'd have been in his 20s (reached the age of majority), and no doubt well aware of eligibility regs.