By
Chris Foy
Last updated at 12:29 AM on 27th January 2012
The saga of Steven Shingler’s eligibility is becoming a drawn-out mess and the latest twists this week suggest that it is bound to end in tears.
On Tuesday, the Scottish Rugby Union confirmed that the London Irish centre had joined Andy Robinson’s national squad for their training camp in St Andrews, despite an IRB ruling that he is only available to Wales. No regulations were breached, but this development suggested that the SRU are prepared to play a game of brinkmanship.
Caught out: Steven Shingler
The following day, Robinson confirmed that an appeal has been formally lodged with the IRB over the Shingler tussle between his union and their Welsh counterparts.
However, he refused to explain the exact grounds for the appeal, possibly to avoid exposing the gaping holes in their argument.
To summarise: Shingler was born in Swansea and his mother is from Dumfries. He played for Wales Under 20s in a game against France which was categorised as a fixture between the countries’ second teams, as neither operate ‘A’ sides. The WRU claim it was made clear to the players that by agreeing to play, they were effectively committing their international careers to Wales.
The Scottish angle is that Shingler did not sign a consent form, but that is a red herring. Whether he did or not, participation alone is a tacit acceptance of rugby nationality for the rest of his playing days. And the argument that forcing a teenager to make such a momentous decision is unfair does not wash. Surely, if someone deemed an adult in the eyes of the law of the land can vote in a General Election and be a parent, they can decide which country they want to play rugby for.
In an ideal world, that decision should come down to a natural sense of identity — as was the case with Ben Morgan, who chose England over Wales — rather than a calculation about the path of least resistance to Test caps. That is not necessarily what is driving Shingler and the sympathy for his predicament is understandable, but there have to be controls on such emotive subjects.
The IRB cannot rule on eligibility merely based on the fact that Shingler now wants to represent Scotland. To do so would open the proverbial can of worms by indirectly paving the way for more players to seek flags of convenience — a concept detested by most partisan supporters.
According to the regulations, the player at the centre of this row qualifies for Wales alone and that is how it must stay. The sad thing for him is that, having shown that his heart lies north of the border, he may find that the only country he can play for will not want him.
Meyer
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