What's new

Declan Rice pledges future to England

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,123
47,887
Worth noting here that Ireland deliberately target youth players who are eligible for two or more countries, most obviously through their grandparents. Yes, they've invested time and money in him, but if you follow that strategy you need to be prepared that some will choose another country when push comes to shove.
 

WorcesterTHFC

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2016
1,777
2,545
Yeah, he had a shelaliegh (sp) as well, didn't you know to be sure.
I'm only taking what I've read in this thread, that his grandparents are Irish and that he was born and raised in England. If that's true, and I can't really be arsed to google whether to confirm that or not, that makes him English.
Contrarary to popular belief, having a tenuous link to the Emerald Isle doesn't an Irishman make and not everyone who has such a link wants to be Irish. Some of us are very happy to be English.
Declan Rice will put out all the right words to the media, and I'm sure he's very sincere in what he's saying, but he's decided to pledge his footballing future to England. I'm sure he'll sleep soundly with all the £s in the bank once he makes his debut.
Apparently it's only his grandparents on his father's side who are Irish, while they're English on his mother's side.
 

Kilkenny Cat

Well-Known Member
Nov 28, 2006
201
480
Worth noting here that Ireland deliberately target youth players who are eligible for two or more countries, most obviously through their grandparents. Yes, they've invested time and money in him, but if you follow that strategy you need to be prepared that some will choose another country when push comes to shove.

To be fair, Ireland haven't invested THAT much time and money in Rice. Chelsea and, latterly, West Ham did that.

And you're absolutely correct: the FAI have no right to complain about Rice choosing to play for England. The real issue is the FAI's failure over many years to develop their own players, hence the reliance on the Granny Rule.
 

FibreOpticJesus

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2005
2,788
4,991
Or had he been fully briefed on a player who was coming through the international ranks at youth levels? He was Irish u-17 player of the year in 2017 and u-19 player of the year in 2018.

I can't wait till he plays against Ireland, scores and kisses the badge.....should get to a 100+ pages me thinks:D
 

Blockbuster

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2007
2,765
1,568
Saido Berahino did the same, played for England Under 16,17,18,19,20,21 but then choose to play for a better nation, we cant win them all
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Worth noting here that Ireland deliberately target youth players who are eligible for two or more countries, most obviously through their grandparents. Yes, they've invested time and money in him, but if you follow that strategy you need to be prepared that some will choose another country when push comes to shove.

And it's not like Rice picked Ireland because he felt Irish. In his interviews in the past he's said there was no interest from England so they were his only option at youth level. He probably felt pride playing for them, but that doesn't mean that he felt Irish. I still think it's very dodgy for football associations to target children living in other countries. Or at least those who've never lived in the country they're being asked to represent.
 

Dougal

Staff
Jun 4, 2004
60,345
129,920
And it's not like Rice picked Ireland because he felt Irish. In his interviews in the past he's said there was no interest from England so they were his only option at youth level. He probably felt pride playing for them, but that doesn't mean that he felt Irish. I still think it's very dodgy for football associations to target children living in other countries. Or at least those who've never lived in the country they're being asked to represent.
You’re be really nailing the sinister angle. Haven’t read those interviews. Link?
 

Dougal

Staff
Jun 4, 2004
60,345
129,920
Jesus H. Christ...

8B22C28C-D443-460A-9F76-1B65950A98DD.jpeg
 
Top