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There is a taken-for-granted acceptance that sports stars have responsibilities as 'role models', yet the concept of a 'role model' is unclear. The present study addressed the choice of 'role models' amongst elite young British rugby league players, and the reasons for their choices. During the summer of 2002 under-13 and under-14 participants of regional training camps (N = 291) completed a questionnaire survey. Almost all indicated that they had a 'favourite player' -though some were not current rugby league players. The most frequently cited were all senior international players, and many had on-field leadership experience. Analysis of the reasons for the choices revealed important general dimensions of technical competence, decision-making, physical characteristics, (explicit reference to) 'role models' and temperament. These provided the basis for a preliminary explanatory model. This particular cohort of young players demonstrated broad consensus and were able to make clear judgements through nuanced understandings of the game.

The question of eligibility for international sporting representation (ISR) has become increasingly contentious. In this paper we argue that the current ISR regulations are outdated and problematic. Sporting governing bodies ought to ignore citizenship as a criterion for ISR, and instead ISR should be based on a normative account of national belonging which would operate primarily on grounds of early socialisation and long-term residency. This approach would avoid many of the pragmatic and moral pathologies of ISR, and would utilise sports potential in promoting a liberal and progressive understanding of national ties.

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