LONDON — Imagine if Bosnia’s national soccer team had not been able to take its wunderkind forward Edin Dzeko to the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Or if Ivory Coast had not been able to take stalwarts like Didier Drogba or Yaya Touré. Or if United States Coach Jurgen Klinsmann had not been allowed to put Tim Howard, perhaps the most famous American playing abroad, on his roster.
In rugby, these sorts of unimaginable situations are a reality. While world championship tournaments are generally thought to be the pinnacles of their sports — the kinds of events that include all the top stars — the Rugby World Cup is different.