McGeechan calls on IRB to give 'clear guidelines'

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan urged the International Rugby Board to emerge from their meeting on the player availability row with a protocol for the world game that gives Test rugby clear priority.

Six of the 20 nations to compete in the World Cup have been weakened because players declared themselves unavailable for selection, including Scotland’s Pool B opponents Fiji.

In most cases it was because the individuals cannot afford to put their respective club contracts on hold for the duration of the tournament, and the cash-strapped nations cannot afford to subsidise them.

IRB communications officer Chris Rea insisted everything possible had been done to help sort the problem in the build-up to this World Cup.

And with an eye on the future, Rea also revealed the IRB council meeting to be held during the tournament will address the controversial issues as a matter of urgency.

“These are things that will certainly be discussed,” said Rea.

“We all are very deeply concerned about the release of the best players. It is not a question of not being interested – far from it.”

McGeechan, who is retiring after the tournament, admitted on Scotland’s arrival in Australia that he is still in love with international rugby and he called on the IRB to “get hold of the whole thing”.

He said: “Either international rugby takes precedent or it doesn’t, the World Cup takes precedent or not.

“There are a lot of contractual things that are very difficult now the game is professional. For the players it is their livelihood but certain things have to be in place so you make it (international rugby) as easy as possible for the players and the employment they have.

“There need to be clear guidelines and not the mixed messages you sometimes get.”

Clubs who place undue pressure on players to turn down international invitations are technically in breach of the IRB’s Regulation Nine, which dictates Test rugby must take precedent.

But that does not cover individual players, like Samoan hooker Trevor Leota, deciding they are unavailable for selection.

Leota had to sacrifice his place at the World Cup because he would not be paid by Wasps for the duration of the tournament – not a concern for the club’s England contingent who will be rewarded handsomely by the RFU.

“It is a very difficult environment,” continued McGeechan.

“That is why I think if you can get a working protocol of how the professional game should operate I think we would all benefit.”

Rea rejected the suggestion that the Rugby World Cup should subsidise the players who have remained away to ensure the tournament genuinely boasts the best in the world.

Scotland’s director of rugby Jim Telfer proposed taking a look at the FIFA soccer World Cup and holding the showpiece event when all domestic action is finished.

“I think it is a pity that players cannot play for their country. One of the reasons for that is not to have seasons that are overlapping and allow the players to play,” he said.

“The soccer World Cup is held when all the domestic games are finished. There are no club matches in any country so all the international players are available.

“When that happens you will get all the best players playing in the World Cup.”

But Rea flat-batted that suggestion, declaring it was not down to the IRB to dictate when its member unions run their own domestic seasons.