Rugby Union: Board puts end to country hopping

Test players will be making a life-long decision at the start of the next century when they make their first appearance for their country. The International Board yesterday tightened up the eligibility regulations to ensure that once a player appears in a Test match or for his country's A team, he cannot switch his allegiance to another nation.

The move immediately scuppers the hopes of Francois Pienaar, the former South Africa captain now playing for Saracens, who this week expressed a desire to play for England by satisfying the 36-month residency clause under current IB regulations.

Any player now contemplating a switch will be unsuccessful and the new rule becomes fully effective in January 2000.

Explaining the eligibility clampdown, the IB chairman Vernon Pugh said: "The issue was raised by Argentina's Carlos Tozzi.

"It reflects his union's concern about the loss of leading players to other countries and the strong belief that representing one's country should be a choice for life.

"We will be drafting the new regulation in such a way that players who are now qualifying for another country and have been living in a new country for a significant length of time will still be able to complete the process.

"New Zealand felt that the development of Western Samoan and Fijian players who are waiting to play for New Zealand might be inhibited. But it is a balanced judgment."

"However, the South Sea Island nations will be delighted. They need to hurry their players into a Test or second team to nail them down for life."

The board have expanded the potential for advertising by allowing logos on the pitch and increasing the half-time interval from five to 10 minutes.

In addition, Test referees will be appointed on merit in future instead of the previous situation which was a rota system, while the principle of Lions' tours every four years was endorsed.

Pugh said the decision to have a 10-minute break at half-time "recognised the increased pace of the game that has come with revised laws and full- time professionalism." He added: "This and the pitch advertising were also dictated by commercial requirements."

The teams and match officials will be allowed to return to the dressing- room instead of having to stay on the pitch as at present.

The venue for the World Cup in 2003 will be decided early next year.

Citings, trips to the "sin bin" and the red and yellow card systems were also discussed. Experiments will continue before a firm policy is implemented next year.