Rugby's residency rule is “crazy” and must be reviewed, according to former Ireland manager Donal Lenihan.
As it stands, a player can become eligible to represent their adopted country after three years.
Ireland, as Lenihan pointed out, are one of the main beneficiaries of the current rule, with the likes of CJ Stander, Jared Payne and Richardt Strauss on Joe Schmidt’s panel.
“I’m absolutely against it, I think the rule is farcical,” Lenihan told RTÉ 2fm’s Game On.
“I think there are so many players from the southern hemisphere adopting a badge of convenience at international level that it’s getting to embarrassing proportions.
“What’s happening, in practice, is that players from the southern hemisphere who aren’t making it within their Super 15 franchises are travelling to the northern hemisphere; they are being paid way more money than they would be within their domestic game.
“After three seasons they get the added bonus that they can play international rugby when it was deemed that they were never good enough to play for their own country in the first place.
“I think the three-year rule is far too narrow.”
We need your consent to load this SoundCloud contentWe use SoundCloud to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The RTÉ analyst reckons that the rule is having an impact across the board, and called for the three-year spell to be extended.
“You look at what’s happening in France with so many South Sea islanders as well as southern hemisphere players coming in, I think it’s disheartening for the local talent.
“I always felt that I’d rather win something with a home-grown Irish team than six or seven players from overseas.
“[South Africa] have over 400 registered professional players in France alone, [France's] international game is being diluted by this. The fact that it is now impacting on international rugby is ridiculous.
"There are so many players from the southern hemisphere adopting a badge of convenience"
“I have no problem whatsoever with the grandparent rule. I have no issue with [sons or grandsons of emigrants] playing for Ireland.
“It just seems crazy, I think it has to be reviewed, and I would say a minimum or five to six years.”
Ireland’s next match is against New Zealand, recently crowed Rugby Championship winners with two rounds to spare, in Chicago on 5 November.
