Yeah sounds right. And the Premiership site says that their rules are in line with the European ones: www.premiershiprugby.com/faqs/
So that's Tom covered.
Pita played u20 for Tonga so is likely a citizen too.
So as long as one of Butler, Deegan and Ili have dual citizenship (or triple in Jarrad's case as he's aleady Aus/NZ) then there can't be an issue. Definitely not for this week anyway as Butler is injured.

pinky wrote:

Bazzo wrote:

pinky wrote: European means EU citizen in this context. Kolpak ruling extended that meaning to countries with EU association agreements.

Is that actually specified anywhere? I've never been able to find it if it is.

To be honest, I've never been able to find it either, so maybe I'm wrong. But if all internationals representing European teams were counted as European, I would still assume that would only include capped internationals, merely being qualified would hardly cut it.

I'm sure I've heard it said before that 36 months residency means that you don't count towards the limit , but can't specifically find anything to back me up on that. I have found a line from the RFU rulebook which I think seems to suggest it's the case though, in the section defining "Foreign" vs "non-Foreign" players this is listed:

(b) can prove to the satisfaction of the RFU that pursuant to World Rugby Regulation 8.1 he is eligible to play for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team, the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team (as defined in World Rugby regulations) of a Rugby Union in membership of the European Union/European Economic Area; or

So it seems in England just being eligible to play for England is enough to classify them as a "non-Foreign" player, I would imagine the same is true here.

Bazzo wrote:

pinky wrote: European means EU citizen in this context. Kolpak ruling extended that meaning to countries with EU association agreements.

Is that actually specified anywhere? I've never been able to find it if it is.

To be honest, I've never been able to find it either, so maybe I'm wrong. But if all internationals representing European teams were counted as European, I would still assume that would only include capped internationals, merely being qualified would hardly cut it.

pinky wrote: European means EU citizen in this context. Kolpak ruling extended that meaning to countries with EU association agreements.

Is that actually specified anywhere? I've never been able to find it if it is.

pinky wrote: European means EU citizen in this context. Kolpak ruling extended that meaning to countries with EU association agreements.

That'll be fun for the English/Scottish/Welsh sides and Ulster after Brexit.

European means EU citizen in this context. Kolpak ruling extended that meaning to countries with EU association agreements.

pinky wrote: I don't think being IQ makes a difference as the rule is about citizenship, not international eligibility.
But in general yeah, it's not a real issue. Most of the SH guys in the squad would have dual citizenship with a country with an EU association agreement. I would assume that there are max 2 "non-Europeans" in the whole squad so it shouldn't affect selection.

I don't think the rules themselves specify anything about citizenship but instead use the vague term "non-European". The citizenship aspect came in to it due to a challenge to similar rules in sport to the European court. I have no idea how the competitions specify "European" and "non-European" bout I would have thought being qualified to play for a European country in the sport in question would qualift you as "European". Otherwise you could have a strange situation where, for example, Jared Payne is a capped Ireland international who counts as a "non-European" player in the Pro12 and Champions Cup.

pinky wrote: I don't think being IQ makes a difference as the rule is about citizenship, not international eligibility.
But in general yeah, it's not a real issue. Most of the SH guys in the squad would have dual citizenship with a country with an EU association agreement. I would assume that there are max 2 "non-Europeans" in the whole squad so it shouldn't affect selection.

You would hope this, but Leinster have had this problem in the last few weeks with James Lowe, Scott Fardy and Jamison Gibson Park.

I don't think being IQ makes a difference as the rule is about citizenship, not international eligibility.
But in general yeah, it's not a real issue. Most of the SH guys in the squad would have dual citizenship with a country with an EU association agreement. I would assume that there are max 2 "non-Europeans" in the whole squad so it shouldn't affect selection.

McCartney doesn't count because he's IQ now. On top of that many players who are of PI descent are exempt because basically the only non-Kolpak countries are NZ and Aus, so it's possible Ahki, Ili or even Deegan or any combination of them could be exempt.

connachta wrote: My team for Saturday
1) McCabe (give Buckley a total rest before the 4 massive games in a row)
2) McCartney (needs gametime back from injury)
3) Carey
4) Thornbury (needs a 1st start)
5) Cannon (experience)
6) Gallagher (deserves it)
7) Masterson
8 ) McKeon (better here than openside IMO)
9/10) Mitchell/Deegan (looks promising)
12) Ronaldson (needs gametime back from injury)
13) Akhi (before he goes, last for him him 2017)
11) Healy
14) Niyi (finally!)
15) Leader (na-na-na-na Leaaaaaader)

16) Heff (impact player)
17) Coulson
18) Bealham (the longer Carey holds the best it is, no other choice than Finlay on the teamsheet again though)
19) Roux (bring him in in case we're struggling for the TBP)
20) Connolly (give him another chance after Zebre)
21) McKeon/Blade (The other one with Eagles/Kerrins, give Marms a total rest before the 4 massive games in a row)
22) Crosbie (give him another chance after Zebre)
23) Ili/Griffin (if Griff is picked, Akhi would cover wing)

www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychallengecup/rules.php
3.7 Each club is permitted a maximum of two 'non-European players' in each match squad.

Is McCartney now Irish qualified, or does he fall under the above?
Excluding him we would not be allowed have Deegan, Ahki and Ili in the same match squad.

My team for Saturday
1) McCabe (give Buckley a total rest before the 4 massive games in a row)
2) McCartney (needs gametime back from injury)
3) Carey
4) Thornbury (needs a 1st start)
5) Cannon (experience)
6) Gallagher (deserves it)
7) Masterson
8 ) McKeon (better here than openside IMO)
9/10) Mitchell/Deegan (looks promising)
12) Ronaldson (needs gametime back from injury)
13) Akhi (before he goes, last for him him 2017)
11) Healy
14) Niyi (finally!)
15) Leader (na-na-na-na Leaaaaaader)

16) Heff (impact player)
17) Coulson
18) Bealham (the longer Carey holds the best it is, no other choice than Finlay on the teamsheet again though)
19) Roux (bring him in in case we're struggling for the TBP)
20) Connolly (give him another chance after Zebre)
21) McKeon/Blade (The other one with Eagles/Kerrins, give Marms a total rest before the 4 massive games in a row)
22) Crosbie (give him another chance after Zebre)
23) Ili/Griffin (if Griff is picked, Akhi would cover wing)

Anyone no Wat time gates opening Saturday

Still though, Eoin McKeon with the joint top defenders beaten and clean breaks.. fair play to the big fella

Mixing Darragh Leader up with his brother Tadhg is a bit of strange one though!

connachta wrote: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...t&utm_medium=twitter

Good stats compilation!

I hope you are being ironic Connachta.
This graphic could be a late contender in Pinky's 2017 Annual What The Feck Are You Talking About Awards

www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3326431...dscape_620/image.jpg

Maths teachers should print it out as an illustration of how not to use pie charts ...

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...t&utm_medium=twitter

Good stats compilation!