Would the iRB be better served by providing a financial incentive for each professional club in the UK and France to take on board a coach or players from countries ranked outside the top 15 in the world to encourage growth in standards?

The scenario of having three German players training with the Scottish clubs whilst two more train and play in France at the same time as their coach learning new skills in England [all for a full season], would have to be attractive to everyone.

Clubs of course would not want to have just any old player handed to them there would need to be a vetting process, but fundamentally what do any of the parties have to lose?

This would be a no risk venture by all parties, with a huge trade off if. For example the players become good enough to start professional matches.

Coaches would be able to return to their clubs after a season, impart their knowledge and improve their clubs performance on and off the field.

Such ventures will breakdown barriers and encourage top tier sides to play against the countries in the next levels down, this would not happen instantly but some contact and cooperation can only improve the current environment.

Someone needs to be brave and put such practicies into place for the good of the developing nations. That someone should and needs to be the iRB.

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