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Post by Marv on Jun 29, 2009 18:46:32 GMT 10
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jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
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Post by jim on Jun 29, 2009 20:11:17 GMT 10
That is a real shame for Wales, he's a great player IMO. This for me highlights the reason why for the sake of Scotland, Ireland and Wales' international future we need Championship teams in Limerick and Glasgow next year and another Welsh Championship club to underpin Celtic by 2012. The reason of course being the production of genuine, home-grown talent. Let's just put it this way Ben Flower is alot less likely to switch allegances than David Halley. Celtic have ensured a reasonably bright future for Wales with a strong junior set-up which should mean that by the next World Cup they will have a good group of young, Welsh players with SL experience to call upon. Take the 4 Celtic under 18's that were selected for the GB squad this year, by the next WC they will be 22 and should be approaching the prime of their careers. Their under 14's will be 18. Scotland and Ireland are more long term projects, it may be years and years before their team can reach SL, maybe never but the important thing is to get their home-grown players exposure to a higher level of competition. Look at France, they came 10th in the WC and got flogged by England but they will still maintain all their players because they are all actually French, as long as Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Fiji, Tonga and Samoa rely on heritage players to be competitive then they will continue to lose players to "higher honours". |
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Post by Marv on Jun 29, 2009 20:35:40 GMT 10
That is a real shame for Wales, he's a great player IMO. This for me highlights the reason why for the sake of Scotland, Ireland and Wales' international future we need Championship teams in Limerick and Glasgow next year and another Welsh Championship club to underpin Celtic by 2012. The reason of course being the production of genuine, home-grown talent. Let's just put it this way Ben Flower is alot less likely to switch allegances than David Halley. Celtic have ensured a reasonably bright future for Wales with a strong junior set-up which should mean that by the next World Cup they will have a good group of young, Welsh players with SL experience to call upon. Take the 4 Celtic under 18's that were selected for the GB squad this year, by the next WC they will be 22 and should be approaching the prime of their careers. Their under 14's will be 18. Scotland and Ireland are more long term projects, it may be years and years before their team can reach SL, maybe never but the important thing is to get their home-grown players exposure to a higher level of competition. Look at France, they came 10th in the WC and got flogged by England but they will still maintain all their players because they are all actually French, as long as Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Fiji, Tonga and Samoa rely on heritage players to be competitive then they will continue to lose players to "higher honours". I'd agree with that Jim, recently on his return to League Brian Carney was asked if he would be putting himself up for England selection as he qualifies on residency and England are in the 4N. Brians response was fulsome in support for Ireland, to say the least!! |
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