Friday, January 6, 2012

IRB to undergo Steven Shingler's Scottish eligibility review

Steven Shingler's eligibility to play for Scotland is to be examined by the International Rugby Board after it was questioned by the Welsh Rugby Union.


IRB to undergo Steven Shingler's Scottish eligibility review



The fly-half was named in Scotland's Six Nations squad but world rugby's governing body stepped in after a query from the WRU and Scottish Rugby Union.
Shingler played for Wales Under-20 against France in the 2011 Six Nations.
Both nations had declared the age-group squads as their second XVs but Shingler insists he did not sign a declaration.

The 20-year-old, who plays for London Irish in the English Premiership, claimed he "declined to sign a declaration" committing his international future to Wales.
"The International Rugby Board has been contacted by the Scottish Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union regarding the eligibility status of Steve Shingler," confirmed the IRB.
"It would be inappropriate to make any further comment until the matter has been fully reviewed and the Unions informed of the outcome."
Scotland insist he is eligible to be in their Six Nations squad.

The SRU said: "Although he played for Wales Under-20 against France Under-20 last season, Steven has confirmed to Scottish Rugby that he declined to sign a declaration from the WRU that he was committed solely to representing Wales at senior level.
"Steven has informed us that he made it clear that he wished to leave open his international eligibility as he was also eligible to represent Scotland and England as well as Wales."
Scotland coach Andy Robinson believes Swansea-born Shingler, who played full-back for Wales Under-20s, qualifies for Scotland as a result of his Dumfries-born mother.
But on Thursday the WRU said: "The Wales U20 team is currently the WRU nominated side for qualification.

"All Welsh players who represent Wales at U20 level against nations which also designate their U20 teams as their qualification sides are informed that they will then be registered as liable for Wales selection only at senior level.
"Shingler played for Wales U20's against France in 2011 before which he was specifically informed, as were his fellow squad members, that the match would confirm their sole qualification as potential Wales senior international candidates.
"Shingler was told by the U20 team management that if he played in the game he would become a Wales qualified player and therefore ineligible for selection for any other nation.
"The regulations and guidelines relating to qualification compliance are set in accordance to IRB regulations and any questioning of these regulations should be directed to the IRB."
On Friday the WRU said they had written to the IRB to outline how they had informed relevant players, including Shingler, that they were eligible "only to selection for Wales" following the U20 match against France.

Neither Wales nor France field an A team and both nations declared the age-group squads as their "next senior XV-a-side national representative team". The WRU are quoting IRB regulation eight on international eligibility.
"Scottish Rugby believes we have acted in good faith in this matter," added the SRU statement.
"And have also taken cognisance of an IRB ruling last year concerning two players who played for Wales Under-20 against France Under-20 in 2010 who now play for Connacht and are eligible for Ireland."

James Loxton and Matthew Jarvis are the Connacht players in question but the WRU argue that, unlike in 2010, the 2011 Six Nations Under-20s game with France was sanctioned by the IRB as a "next senior XV-a-side national representative team" so any player on the field would be committed to that country.
Shingler was selected by Scotland coach Andy Robinson along with five other uncapped players - Edinburgh's Lee Jones, Sale Sharks lock Fraser McKenzie and Glasgow trio Stuart Hogg, Duncan Weir and flanker Robert Harley.

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