Bound to the nation: Pacific Islands rugby and the IRB's new ‘one-country-for-life’ eligibility rules

Abstract

The rulings made by international sports governing bodies are not merely technocratic actions, but are political decisions that have extensive impacts on lived experience. Indeed the impact of Regulation 8.2, instituted by the International Rugby Board, has had effects that have weighed heavily on the smaller nations of the rugby-playing world. The regulation, that is known as a ‘one-country-for-life’ eligibility rule, functions to limit the potential of pacific island nations and their players that rely on the economic resources of international rugby. Whilst at the same time this regulation has also supported established rugby playing nations in utilizing the human resources of these pacific island nations. In this article we will explore the specific ways in which this regulation has shaped rugby and the flows of rugby related peoples and capital within the pacific region. Regulation 8.2 exists as a particularly vexed issue for Pacific countries because of the inherently ‘mobile’ nature of Pacific societies and the existence of a ‘special relationship’ between pacific island nations and New Zealand in particular. As such we have provided a specific critical discussion of the effects this ruling has had within the region, attempting to explore powerful relations exercised through international rugby and moments of marginalization.