The times, they are a-changing

We are entering a new era in rugby union. The question on everybody’s lips is of how our international team will be affected by the transfer movement in and out of the Guinness Premiership. We have seen the influx of many southern-hemisphere greats crossing the equator to play in the Guinness and Magners leagues, but with more foreign influence coming in, and now English players moving out, how will this affect our international team in the years leading up to the 2011 world cup?

The hottest topic to date is this summer’s Lions’ tour to current world champions South Africa. Ian McGeechan’s side, consisting of the Six-Nations’ Triple Crown quartet, will hopefully be aiming to rekindle the success of Mcgeechan’s last outing as the Lions’ head coach, which saw a famous 2-1 victory over the Springboks back in ’97.

However, 12 years on the shape of world rugby has shifted. The popularity of the sport is on the incline with power to manipulate player interest with big money investment, and in the short time since our last tour to the SA, rugby as a sport has well and truly become a business.

James Haskell, Tom Palmer, and Riki Flutey are the most recent exits from the Premiership, completing their moves from London Wasps to French sides Stade Français and Brive this summer, and in doing so are permitting more players to follow suit and move to where the big bucks are.

This is not to say that the players themselves are the money grabbing footballers we see in soccer, but as the RFU continues to abide by their salary cap in the Guinness Premiership, it is inevitable that foreign teams without these restrictions are going to have a massive advantage when players’ contracts are up.

On the other side of the coin, the takeover from new Saracens Chief Executive Edward Griffiths will involve a huge team reconfiguration at the London side, which will see many leave the club to be replaced by what will ultimately be a South African second team.

The appointment of new Director of Rugby Brendan Venter at the end of this season has already seen the team’s interest in players from his current Super 14 side Stormers. As Eddie Jones is removed from the helm, reports have suggested there is already interest in Springboks Schalk Burger and full-back Conrad Jantjes, who will supposedly be the first of many South African imports to Vicarage Road.

So what of young English talent? Competition for team selection at club level is the highest it has ever been, and since capped England internationals are venturing away from their homeland to play elsewhere, how does the England team propose to compete? It is all well and good having the best of other nations taking to our pitches every Saturday afternoon, but is it worth the hype if the international team is going to be crippled of its potential flair coming through the ranks?

Lawrence Dallaglio has expressed his frustration at the RFU allowing players to leave the Premiership for more wealthy opposition, and believes action should be taken to stop our international stars slipping through our fingers. If the salary cap is to be upheld, a player who wishes to leave to play in foreign land should not be considered for international duty over other prospects nearer to home. This is the philosophy in New Zealand and Wales, so should it here.

Big Lol’s words speak louder than mine ever will, but even so the case still remains that our nation’s future on the international stage may not be as bright as it’s made out to be. Past success has come through internal club structure and it won’t ever continue if we choose money over allegiance.