RFU Rules Out Rugby League Imports
The Rugby Football Union has stated that it will no longer fund cross-code transfers of players poached from rugby league.
Jason Robinson’s successful move from rugby league to rugby union helped England win the 2003 World Cup, and saw the RFU involved in bringing other big-name league players to union.
However the likes of Andy Farrell, Henry Paul and Chev Walker failed to match Robinson’s impact and proved expensive flops.
‘We’ve made it very clear our policy is not to recruit league players,’ said RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew. ‘That’s because of the structure in terms of how we’re funding the clubs and the top end of the game.’
League players are still moving to union however but the clubs involved in those deals have had to find the finances without assistance from the RFU.
Said Andrew: ‘It would have to be an extraordinary situation for Martin Johnson to come to us recommending a league player and for us to sign him.
‘But if there was a player like that then it’s very likely that he would not already have been signed by a Gloucester or Bath. That’s because these players are being shifted around the market-place the whole time.’
