Seeking a fresh start ahead of the 2027 World Cup they are hosting, Australia have just carried out a genuine revolution. The Aussie union has announced the end of restrictions for potential internationals who have chosen to move abroad. Until now, and barring an exceptional waiver such as the one granted to La Rochelle’s Will Skelton, only a player who had already won at least 60 caps in the gold jersey and played at least 7 seasons of Super Rugby could sign in a foreign league while continuing to play for Australia.

The end of the “Giteau” exemption

A rule that had been tailor-made in 2015 to allow the brilliant Matt Giteau, then at RCT, to represent his country at the World Cup. Faced with the collapse in the level of its national side – despite a flicker of revival in recent months – the Australian union has now resigned itself to opening the floodgates in order to bring together every talent at its disposal, even at the risk of weakening its Super Rugby franchises, which could as a result soon be bled of their headline names.

A sporting necessity and economic pragmatism, since those franchises do not have the financial means of Top 14 or Japan’s League One. Witness the departure of star Taniela Tupou, who signed this summer for Racing 92. Perhaps the jolt that pushed the Australian union to think again.