Times are changing

News of players changing provinces, clubs, countries and nationalities are part and parcel of the modern era. Traditional rugby was all about pride and representing the club, province or country you came from. It was about defending your territory and you wouldn't dare change allegiance and swap sides for fear of becoming a traitor.

These days a rugby player is an employee and all decisions are business based. Some players would argue that moving to a bigger union or club is because of the huge history or the quality of players at the club, but we all know that at the end of the day it is a business decision.

Clubs and provinces look for quick solutions because the pressure from fans and supporters to produce winning results is immense. Developing a player is time consuming and not always easy. Rugby is showing signs of becoming much like soccer (or football) when it comes to the trading of players, but the powers that be should becareful of retaining the traditions of the sport that make it so unique.

I do not mind players changing clubs or going overseas for a year or two to earn the Euro or Pound and to learn a different style of rugby, but when you change your allegiance to an adopted country I have to question the moral and ethical points of such a move.

When you represent a club or province, you do so for the level of play and the financial gain. Changing your loyalties can be easy when you are being paid more and play with better quality players at a club or province.

International rugby is about pride, nothing more than raw pride! I am sorry, but Riki Flutey is not English. He doesn't deserve to play for England, not because he is a bad player, but because he is not English. Clyde Rathbone's grandmother was Australian, so what! Clyde Rathbone is South African.

You cannot tell me that playing for a different country is a financial decision as you can earn a lot more by being a quality player for a club - just look at some of the salaries being paid out by French rugby clubs!

Some may argue that playing in a foreign country makes national selection difficult. I say work out what your priorities are, finances or pride? There is of course the option of doing both. John Smit did it, Daniel Carter did it and many many more have done it and will continue to look after their financial futures while not jeopardising their international careers a la Frans Steyn.

Anyway, whichever way you look at it rugby needs to keep it's rich traditions at some level and there is no better place to do this when representing your country.