Should More be Done to Support PI Countries?

First topic message reminder :

In the Professional Era:

Samoa have hosted - Scotland (2012), Ireland (2003), Italy (2000) & France (1999)
http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;home_or_away=1;orderby=date;orderbyad=reverse;team=15;template=results;type=team;view=match

Fiji have hosted - Scotland (2012), Maoris (2008, 2005, 1999, 1996), Italy (2006, 2000), France (1998)
http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;home_or_away=1;orderby=date;orderbyad=reverse;team=14;template=results;type=team;view=match

Tonga have hosted - Ireland (2003), France (1999), Maori (1996)
http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;home_or_away=1;orderby=date;orderbyad=reverse;team=16;template=results;type=team;view=match



Is this good enough?

Griff wrote:But this player drain is a myth too in terms of the PI teams. If you ask the NZ fans they'll show you that 'poaching' has actually been very minimal over the years by NZ. It has been the other way round, I.e. players born in NZ have gone on to represent the PI nations through parents and grandparents.

Absolutely. Half the Samoan squad from last years RWC were New Zealanders who couldn't crack the ABs so decided to play for Samoa due to ancestry.

dallym wrote:

Griff wrote:But this player drain is a myth too in terms of the PI teams. If you ask the NZ fans they'll show you that 'poaching' has actually been very minimal over the years by NZ. It has been the other way round, I.e. players born in NZ have gone on to represent the PI nations through parents and grandparents.

Absolutely. Half the Samoan squad from last years RWC were New Zealanders who couldn't crack the ABs so decided to play for Samoa due to ancestry.

Today's Times has an interesting set of articles on the trend of Polynesian players moving North, with comments from Manu Tuilagi, Deacon Manu and Mako Vunipola.

A couple of quotes stood out, firstly from Vunipola on why he feels more Tongans will head North:

It's getting a lot easier to come to Europe now. They'd struggle to get into the New Zealand team for a start. But a lot of islanders are looking to try to get a better life abroad.

And from Deacon Manu

A lot of players in the [Fiji] team now didn't have enough food to eat when they were growing up. So to see where they are now, from playing rugby overseas, it's quite something.