Fast-tracking Kiwi players into Ireland's national team is wrong - Fitzgerald

by The TRU Team Friday 4 November 2016

Auckland born Bundee Aki (right) has recently signed a three-year deal with Connacht.

©PA

Former Irish winger Luke Fitzgerald has launched heavy criticism against the Irish Rugby Football Union’s (IRFU) policy of fast-tracking Kiwi players into Ireland's national team, stating the concept "pisses me off".

The former Leinster player was talking during the promotion of Sky Sports’ autumn coverage of Irish provincial and international rugby when he opposed his IRFU's use of World Rugby's disputed residency rule and said it had "diluted" the international game.

Fitzgerald has also come out in support of World Rugby's stance to revise the present regulations which permit the players to play international rugby after a period of three years residing in their adopted country.

"I think it's wrong," he said. "That's controversial and it's no reflection on those guys. They're doing everything within the rules. I want to see Irish guys in there.

"Are we not good enough to fill the spots? I don't know if there's a big enough gap to justify it? Garry (Ringrose) looks awesome, Robbie's (Henshaw) brilliant, Stuart Olding, Luke Marshall.

"I don't know if being born in a different part of the world makes you a better player. If they're not making their international teams, why would we be taking them? Is that an admission we're not as good as them? I'm sure it is. Would it affect me if there was a guy from another place getting picked ahead of me? I've been in that spot and it does piss you off.

"You've come all the way up through the systems and then all of a sudden some guy comes in and is perceived to be better because he's from a different place and it's, 'Let's get this guy in'.

"It's really disappointing. It really dilutes it. What's the point? It's like Barbarians versus Barbarians, why do that? I don't understand that."

Former Chiefs centre Bundee Aki signed a fresh extended three-year contract with Irish club Connacht which now qualifies him to play for Ireland's national squad from next year.

The Irish media had reported that national coach Joe Schmidt had spoken with Aki before he signed off his Connacht contract extension.