JIFF restrictions so far not reducing Tier 2 players in France

As European clubs start playing pre-season friendlies and recruitment has by and large finished aside from one or two late pick ups here and there. We see in France the pattern is different to England ...

JIFF restrictions so far NOT yet reducing Tier 2 numbers in Top 14

Whilst the English Premiership is seeing around a 39% reduction in numbers of Tier 2 internationals for next season, in France in spite of an upping of JIFF requirements ahead of this season (from a season average of 14 to 16 JIFF in the matchday 23 and from 16 to 15 non-JIFF used in a season), the number hasn't gone down at all and remained stable with actually a small increase for next season.

A total of 82 Tier 2 internationals played in the Top 14 last season, whilst for the upcoming season there are 89 in squads for next season (and that is not including Espoirs such as Tedo Abzhandadze or Will Percillier yet to make their pro debut but who plausibly could add to those numbers).

Also unlike the Premiership, where all players from Tier 2 nations not yet capped are protecting EQP status, there are players in France who are not yet capped internationals simply as they have not yet been required by their national teams. In the cases of players such as the Georgia U20 props Luka Azariashvili or Gia Kharaishvili they have big potential to be future internationals and to that total.

French clubs still offering opportunities available nowhere else

Stade Français signing Thierry Futeu

One obvious thing is that French clubs have an appetite for scouting and signing lesser known young talent from across the world that simply does not exist anywhere else in world rugby.

In this summer's transfer market for example, there were reportedly a few teams interested in Cameroonian Spaniard Thierry Futeu who Stade Français signed up. Georgia's Beqa Gigashvili has risen up the divisions to a move to Toulon. Spain's centre Alvar Gimeno was rewarded with impressive form this year and got a pro contract to join Béziers. Whilst Brive have signed U20 standouts from Georgia (Abzhandadze), Spain (Gonzalo López), and Netherlands (Renger van Eerten).

These are all players who would simply been highly unlikely to realistically been able to get an opportunity to make it at a top level pro rugby in any other country. 31% of the foreign produced players (players raised in a different country) in the Top 14 and 44% in Pro D2 last season were from outside Tier 1 nations, by comparison in the English Premiership this figure is 13% or in the Pro14 10%.

Added JIFF restrictions for this season does not appear to have hit the market for Georgian props or Fijian outside backs (both of which numbers are stable and set for small increases next season).

Indeed the numbers of Georgians signing to Top 14 or Pro D2 in France have in fact never been higher. More of this year's U20 group has got contracts than ever before. Likewise the improving levels of young homegrown players in Spain is seeing them get more Espoirs contracts as well.

JIFF rules offer more leeway than restrictions in other countries

A main factor behind all this is in the leeway in the JIFF system. As players who move young (U20 age or below) have now in fact either gained JIFF status, or will be in line to do so in future after three seasons registered in either a Top 14 or Pro D2 Espoirs contract. According to AllRugby.com there are at least 28 Georgians and 24 Fijians in France who are now JIFF plus various more from all over the world.

This has meant a number of Georgians and Fijians in particular have avoided seeing their market value damaged by restrictions (on the contrary it has actually now probably been increased). It has also meant there has been no slow down in French clubs scouting and giving opportunities for the most impressive young players from the likes of Georgia, Spain etc.

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Hypothetical 100% JIFF 23 man squad

1.	Mikheil Nariashvili (Georgia)	9.	Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia)	16.	Marco Pinto (Spain)
2.	Badri Alkhazashvili (Georgia)	10.	Patricio Fernández (Argentina)	17.	Zurab Zhvania (Georgia)
3.	Levan Chilachava (Georgia)			18.	Lasha Tabidze (Georgia)
4.	Kote Mikautadze (Georgia)	11.	Alivereti Raka (Fiji/France)	19.	Andrés Zafra (Colombia)
5.	Manuel Leindekar (Uruguay)	12.	Jale Vatubua (Fiji)	20.	Otia Giorgadze (Georgia)
6.	Zeno Kieft (Netherlands)	13.	Virimi Vakatawa (Fiji/France)	21.	Julien Berger (Belgium)
7.	Peceli Yato (Fiji)	14.	Josua Tuisova (Fiji)	22.	UJ Seuteni (Australia/Samoa)
8.	Beka Gorgadze (Georgia)	15.	Seta Tuicuvu (Fiji)	23.	Taylor Paris (Canada)

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Also JIFF allows French players (especially those in Pro D2) who won't make the national team to still have an international career representing their nations of heritage such as Spain, Portugal, or Algeria without hurting their value and risking harm for their career after losing eligibility.

France is practically the only country where this opportunity for an international career with a heritage country is available for some of their lower level pros. Almost everywhere else (New Zealand, Australia, Ireland etc) players will be harming their contract status to do so.

The chance of Nigeria strengthening significantly and rising fast in the context of African rugby by selecting English heritage pros such as Paolo Odogwu, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Josh Ibuanokpe, Onojaife brothers etc is incredibly minuscule compared to the possibility of Algeria with French pros.

However JIFF will still harm careers to some degree

JIFF restrictions have reportedly
slowed down Georgian prospect
Gela Aprasidze's progress into the
first team squad at Montpellier

Whilst hugely preferable to the eligibility restrictions it still would not be accurate to say JIFF is totally harmless to the careers of players from Tier 2 nations however.

Georgia's top prospect Gela Aprasidze should become JIFF after this season, but in the meantime is said to have lost out on game time at Montpellier due to not yet being so. As JIFF tightens it will likely be that less established young player not an established first team member who loses game time first.

So whilst there may still be a chances with added JIFF restrictions for players from Tier 2 nations to make it in France with clubs still scouting and recruiting. There will be more pressure on them to increase their chances by moving young (which is not an easy thing to do for all players and may not be ideal for their potential in every case), and it could slow their progress into making the first team.

Unfortunately though thanks to the fact there are many out there with seemingly little comprehension of numbers who have repeated an utterly false and unfair narrative blaming foreigners in France for the national team's failures. This is just the first season of tighter JIFF restrictions as they are set to incrementally get tighter for the next couple of seasons after this to 2021-2022.

This will not make things easier overall and though this season there has been limited damaging effect to the amount of opportunity for players from Tier 2 nations. We can't be totally sure this will still be the case in two years, and some will no doubt also still be looking to remove the leeway in the system that allows for some foreign players in France to get JIFF status. Only time will tell ...