The Barbarians will definitely have their most American flavor yet this summer as Taku Ngwenya now joins Samu Manoa on the teams roster.
The Barbarians had been trying to get Ngwenya to play for the team for several years but the timing had never worked out. Now with openings created from the Lions tour and a long summer of rugby for the Eagles everything has worked out. Ngwenya will of course miss the Eagles match on May 25th but like Manoa, and most likely the rest of the team's European contingent, it was unlikely he was going to play in the match. As Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin mentioned to TIAR a little while back, some of the European players might not be available until the World Cup qualifiers. Plus, there is little better preparation for those qualifiers than playing against the British and Irish Lions.
Nigel and Tolkin better get a handle on Club vs. Country conflicts before the USA becomes just another source of talent for the club game overseas. It is great that USA eligible players are getting coaching and experience in pro leagues overseas, but not if the national team is second to income and prestige motives offered to club players supercede the desire to play for the Eagles.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if the answer is central contracts or the investment and creation of a pro league for the 15s game ASAP. European clubs are very aggressive about procuring talent and with residency rules the way they are we may see home grown talent poached early to play club rugby and then offered the chance to play for 1st tier nations before they ever play for the Eagles.
I don't blame the players for chasing money and glory, but as an Eagles supporter I do not want a national team that supports a policy where top players only need to show up for RWC qualifiers and the RWC at the expense of players putting in the work to be an Eagle in those same positions.