SYDNEY, (THE DAILY TELEGRAPH) —-Jarryd Hayne could still represent NSW even if he pledges his international allegiance to Fiji as rugby league’s Test eligibility rules look certain to undergo a major revamp.
Hayne is an outside chance of making Australia’s Four Nations squad at the end of this year, but discussions have already commenced to entice the Titans fullback to commit to Fiji.
The Rugby League International Federation will meet next month to discuss the prospect of allowing free movement for players between tier one and tier two nations.
This would allow Hayne to select Australia in order to play for NSW next year but switch his allegiance back to Fiji in time to play in next year’s World Cup.
Eligibility for State of Origin will not change, with English and Kiwi players remaining unavailable.
The rule would also free up the likes of Anthony Milford to pursue his goal of representing Queensland will allow him to play for Samoa should he miss Kangaroos selection. Incumbent NSW hooker Robbie Farah has indicated his desire to play for Lebanon at next year’s World Cup.
Plans are already afoot to have Hayne feature for Fiji against Samoa in what will be Samoa’s first official Test match on home soil on October 8.
Meanwhile, Andrew Hill starts in his role as World Cup chief executive on Monday. Hill, a long-term rugby league administrator, steps into the position after Michael Brown was forced to resign following a heated voicemail left on the phone of ex-Panthers chief executive Corey Payne.
“The first task is to build a strong team,” Hill said. “We are moving out of the NRL offices. We are starting our own office to create our own identity. I will introduce myself to the key stakeholders and very much focus on the football aspect of getting the World Cup up and running successfully.”
Part of Hill’s challenge will be to engage western Sydney after the region was overlooked for matches.
“The draw has been done and settled,” Hill said. “Management went through a very rigorous process. Sydney will get two high quality games. The fact that every state and territory wanted to have international football is an enormous sign that perhaps the game wouldn’t have had 10 years ago.”.
