A Canadian rugby league side is to join the third tier of UK rugby league’s domestic competition – a left-field idea so simple that it might just actually work. If it’s successful then it might just be the future for union’s tier 2 nations as well.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood heralded the move and boldly proclaimed (via Sky Sports): “Rugby League has always had a pioneering philosophy throughout its history and this initiative offers further evidence of the sport’s wide appeal and readiness to embrace innovation.”

But it’s not an innovation entirely new to union. RGC 1404 is Wales’ northern developmental team and back in 2010 it was announced that the side would sign up nine Canadian players in an agreement that would work symbiotically: it helped to develop interest in and the quality of rugby for the team and it allowed the North American exiles the chance to play at a higher standard on a regular basis.

Canadian scrum half Doug Wooldrige, formerly of RGC 1404, commented (via the BBC): “The rugby is what we wanted, which is a big plus. It’s of a higher level, more organised and there’s a better skill level than back home.”

These approaches to integrating foreign talent into domestic sides are two ways that the sport’s wealthiest nations can help to improve the fortunes of tier 2 nations. There has been much talk of integrating Georgia and Romania into senior competitions at international or domestic level in Europe, but inviting continental European club or regional sides into the lower leagues of Britain, Ireland or France might be the way forward for those countries in the top divisions of the European Nations Cup.

Some home nations teams have dabbled with Eastern European players in the past. Northampton Saints signed Russian winger Vasili Artemiev back in 2011 – the first Russian to play in the English Premiership – and Sale Sharks have had Moldovan tighthead Vadim Cobilas on their books for several seasons, but the introduction of such players has been more of a drip than a trickle.

In France, however, the story is somewhat different. 18 of Georgia’s European Nations Cup squad play in the top three divisions of French domestic rugby. 7 of Romania’s squad play in France and a further couple are signed up for Italian sides.

It’s a formula that means a developing country’s top players can be playing at a much higher level than they would find back home, but it does mean the Georgian coaches have limited time and access to these individuals, with clubs only duty bound to release players for specific World Rugby Test windows.

It’s a blueprint that originally helped to turn Argentina into a global force. Previously, the majority of Argentinian professional players were found in either France or England, but with the creation of the country’s first Super Rugby team, the Jaguares, it ensures Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade has unprecedented access to his top players. Only one player in their last international squad was not signed up to the franchise.

Yet having a Georgian, Romanian Russian, Spanish or Portuguese side in the lower leagues of English, French or Celtic domestic rugby would mean a national squad could train together, play together, understand each other better and ultimately produce improved performances in international fixtures.

Opponents to the idea would point to the failures of Italian’s two franchises in the Pro12, but those failures are down to structural disorganisation and mismanagement more than anything. Any new teams introduced into European leagues would need to be heavily monitored, regulated and supported.

However, if Toronto Wolfpack can make an impact in rugby league than maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance it could work in union.

Paul Wassell, Pundit Arena

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