Southern hemisphere players are integral to the global game but the financial clout of Europe remains dominant
T
hey’re present in every top-flight club in Europe. They pack down for teams in France and Scotland. They run the show from half-back in England and Italy. They provide heft through the midfield and dazzle out wide in Ireland and Wales.
There are 257 of them in total, drawn from 12 nations including Chile, Zimbabwe and the Cook Islands. More than 60 are South African, a further 56 call Argentina home. Remove them and the complexion of the Top 14, Prem Rugby and the United Rugby Championship would look completely different, not least in the development of European players alongside and against them.
They have been drawn north by the gravitational pull of pounds and euros. Some cross the equator in search of financial security, others for the chance to extend careers or test themselves in different environments. Whatever the motivation, the contribution of southern hemisphere talent to European rugby cannot be overstated.
