Rugby Australia has raised concerns with World Rugby regarding French clubs allegedly recruiting teenage talents from Australia. This comes after reports of French clubs signing young players like 16-year-old Visesio Kite and targeting others such as 17-year-old Heinz Lemoto. Rugby Australia Chairman Daniel Herbert has called for stricter rules to prevent such "poaching" of young talents, emphasizing the need for discussions at the global level to address the issue.
Various global unions have also urged World Rugby to enhance regulations surrounding the recruitment of young players. World Rugby's protocols prohibit unauthorized approaches and poaching of young players within or between unions, with sanctions to be imposed on those found in violation. Herbert attributed the issue to French clubs collaborating with player agents in Australia, highlighting the need for a unified approach to address the matter through World Rugby's intervention.