Stop Poaching Pacific Island Players
Irish Billionaire Denis O'Brien has pledged to stop the All Blacks "pinching" (Western) Samoan rugby players.
Perhaps he should look at the facts first - in the last All Black team to play, there were the following foreign born players:
Jerome Kaino - born in American Samoan, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
John Schwalger - born in Apia, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Ben Franks - born in Melbourne, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Sione Luaki - born in Tonga, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Rodney So'oialo - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Isaia Toeava - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Josevata Rokocoko - born in Fiji, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Mils Muliaina - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Sitiveni Sivivatu - born in Fiji, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Obviously a pattern here. And in case you're wondering, Ross Filipo, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Tuitavake, and Ma'a Nonu are all born in New Zealand.
There are no foreign based players, or former promising age grade players poached into New Zealand after being developed in another country - the only exception to this is Brad Thorn, who was one of the best Rugby League players in Australia before being 'poached' to Rugby Union by the Crusaders.
So either the New Zealand Rugby Union talent scouts are very good at picking future All Blacks as pre-schoolers, then to claim New Zealand is poaching players from Pacific Island nations has no basis in fact.
However, having a look at the 2008 Manu Samoa Rugby Team, and you find a couple of familiar names like:
Filipo Levi - born in Huntly, plays Rugby in Otago
Jeremiah Fatialofa - born in Auckland, played for New Zealand Under-19, son of Auckland and Samoan rugby legend Peter Fatialofa.
Plus a bunch of less familiar names born in Auckland, Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, etc.
So, if Denis O'Brien wants to stop the poaching of Pacific Island rugby players, he needs to:
1. Ban emigration from the Pacific Islands
2. Stop Samoan rugby pinching second tier players from New Zealand.
Perhaps he should look at the facts first - in the last All Black team to play, there were the following foreign born players:
Jerome Kaino - born in American Samoan, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
John Schwalger - born in Apia, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Ben Franks - born in Melbourne, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Sione Luaki - born in Tonga, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Rodney So'oialo - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Isaia Toeava - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Josevata Rokocoko - born in Fiji, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Mils Muliaina - born in Samoa, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Sitiveni Sivivatu - born in Fiji, family emigrated to New Zealand while a child.
Obviously a pattern here. And in case you're wondering, Ross Filipo, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Tuitavake, and Ma'a Nonu are all born in New Zealand.
There are no foreign based players, or former promising age grade players poached into New Zealand after being developed in another country - the only exception to this is Brad Thorn, who was one of the best Rugby League players in Australia before being 'poached' to Rugby Union by the Crusaders.
So either the New Zealand Rugby Union talent scouts are very good at picking future All Blacks as pre-schoolers, then to claim New Zealand is poaching players from Pacific Island nations has no basis in fact.
However, having a look at the 2008 Manu Samoa Rugby Team, and you find a couple of familiar names like:
Filipo Levi - born in Huntly, plays Rugby in Otago
Jeremiah Fatialofa - born in Auckland, played for New Zealand Under-19, son of Auckland and Samoan rugby legend Peter Fatialofa.
Plus a bunch of less familiar names born in Auckland, Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, etc.
So, if Denis O'Brien wants to stop the poaching of Pacific Island rugby players, he needs to:
1. Ban emigration from the Pacific Islands
2. Stop Samoan rugby pinching second tier players from New Zealand.
posted by Michael at
11:57 AM
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