Australian Wallabies Could be About to Welcome Overseas Players

Australia’s rugby team may be about to further relax the rules, insisting that they recruit players from domestic teams. Should this go ahead, the Wallabies could recruit overseas players in an attempt to improve their chances of beating the British and Irish Lions this summer.

Although in the past, the team has only ever taken on players who are either Australian-based themselves or who are committed to returning to the country to play, the change could make it infinitely easier to recruit overseas players to compete in this summer’s series.

The Effect on Sports Betting

The onboarding of more players is certain to improve Australia’s odds on the pitch, and this improvement is sure to be reflected in the world of online sports betting. Australian residents can access a list of 10 betting sites in Australia and enjoy the many bonuses that come with doing so. These sites cover a large number of different sports and include unique payment methods, like crypto and instant payouts, meaning there really is something for every kind of sports bettor.

Relaxing Giteau’s Law 

The policy that has insisted on recruitment being given primarily to Australia-based players is called ‘Giteau’s Law’ and is so named because it came about in 2015 when Australia wanted to recruit the Toulon-based player Matt Giteau for the Rugby World Cup.

The policy not only placed a cap on the number of overseas players that an Australian head coach could recruit, but it also placed specific requirements on those individual players. However, Giteau’s law has been loosened in recent years, and may soon be eradicated entirely.

Taking on Overseas Players

Current head-coach Joe Schmidt has spoken up on the rule loosening, revealing that the Wallabies don’t want to ‘discount anyone’ and mentioning the benefits that could arise from taking on players from overseas. That being said, he has also acknowledged the difficulties that come into play when doing so, and how difficult it could be to bring someone from the outside into a team that already plays well together.

Should the rule be relaxed in the way that is being proposed, there are a certain number of players who could directly benefit. La Rochelle’s Will Skelton, who formerly held the position of second row with Saracens, could be one of them. Additionally, Peter Samu, currently playing for France, and Samu Kerevi, currently playing for Japan, could both be brought back to Australia to give the team the edge it needs.

The Effect of Recent Injuries

One factor that may have pushed Schmidt to reconsider this rule is the various injuries his team have faced in recent weeks. Both the talented and popular Noah Lolesio and big-money league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii were both taken off the pitch in stretchers.

Suaalii’s injury involved a nasty concussion that will prolong his return to the pitch, and, although we know Lolesio’s injury isn’t being deemed as serious, we still have no idea when he will be fit to return to work.

These injuries to two of his best players are certain to have reminded Schmidt how fragile his team is, and could have driven him to consider recruiting from overseas as a way to cover for skilled player losses in the future.

Henry Pollock

Additionally, Schmidt already has his eyes on England player Henry Pollock and has voiced his approval of the 20-year-old’s rapid climb to success. By drawing attention to all he has achieved in the last few months, Schmidt has not only made it clear that the Walibees will be up against tough competition this Summer, but that there is an extensive pool of incredibly talented players overseas that they might benefit from making use of.

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