Super 15
O'Neill proposes transfer window
Scrum.com
January 5, 2010
ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill speaks during an ARU press conference to announce the newly appointed 'ARU Classic Wallabies Statesmen', Australian Rugby Union Headquarters, Sydney, Australia, April 20, 2009
John O'Neill wants to minimise disruption as the Rebels build their squad © Getty Images
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The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will employ a soccer-style transfer window for the Super 14 in order to ensure that there is no disruption to existing franchises as the Melbourne Rebels set about building a squad ahead of their inclusion in the 2011 Super 15.

In 2005, as the Western Force prepared for their bow in the competition, a number of players were unveiled by the franchise before the end of the existing season.

The newly-minted agreement that will allow up to 10 overseas players to represent the Rebels will doubtless reduced the impact on the existing playing stocks further, but ARU chief John O'Neill is taking no chances.

"We will be introducing a protocol as to when signings can and can't happen," he told AAP. "We don't want a repetition of when the Western Force was established.

"It's not good, in the middle of a Super rugby competition halfway through the season (when) you've got a Waratah player standing up, pulling on a Melbourne jersey. We'd like to get Super rugby over with before there are any announcements on players being signed."

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