'Giteau Law' won't change for Will Skelton
- 2009
Rugby Australia have confirmed that they won't be making any unprecedented concessions or changes for inform Saracens' lock Will Skelton to be eligible for World Cup duty.
The Wallabies' selection policy, more well known as "Giteau's Law" specifies that an overseas-based player can only be selected for the Wallabies if they have played 60 Tests and a minimum of seven consecutive years in Australian rugby.
If those requirements aren't met the player must have signed for an Australian Super Rugby franchise for the next two seasons.
Rugby Australia CEO, Raelene Castle has all but ruled out any kind of leniency for Will Skelton when questioned on Monday, but admitted Skelton's manager had reached out about potentially returning home.
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle says the Giteau Law isn't likely to be tweaked for Will Skelton, after the lock expressed a desire to make a Wallabies comeback.https://t.co/FvspsQh8NV
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) June 3, 2019
"The Giteau Law is something that an enormous amount of time and effort was put into the thought, despite what people might think," she said.
"There was an enormous amount of thought of the implications, why the number was 60, how the rule's implemented in a sensible pragmatic way and from our perspective, there'd be no intention to move away from that in relation to Will Skelton.
"His management has been in touch with our footy guys about his desire to want to come back and play for Australia but like all international players there's some rules around and we have to make sure we apply those rules with a level of consistency."
Skelton started both the Champions Cup and Premiership Final for Saracens but went off with a slight niggle in the latter on Saturday.
