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19 players who could make a Test eligibility switch

By Ian Cameron
Sebastian Vahaamahina. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

World Rugby’s new eligibility laws mean that a number of high-profile players could have the opportunity to play for a different country from which they were first capped – both immediately and in coming years.

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According to the new regulations, players will meet transfer qualification criteria by standing down from Test rugby for three years and must either be born in the country they wish to represent or have a parent or grandparent born there.

It could open the door for a slew of people to change allegiances. Here we look at 19 players who could switch, although some are very much more likely than others to do so.

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SEBASTIEN VAHAAMAHINA
Hasn’t played for France since his red card elbow at the Rugby World Cup. The giant second row could feature for New Caledonia in 2022, although the small island nation have only played 20 international matches since first partaking in the sport in the 1960s.

TAQELE NAIYARAVORO
Won a couple of caps for Australia back in 2015 but could switch back to his native Fiji, who he has represented in Rugby League.

LUKE MCGRATH
Although he’s still involved in Ireland, McGrath could technically play for Canada immediately, having not played for the men in green since 2018. Highly unlikely of course.

Luke McGrath
Luke McGrath in action against New Zealand.
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CHARLES PIUTAU
Maybe the most talked-about of potential switchers, Piutau has made it clear that he would play for Tonga given the opportunity. One of the best-paid players in the world, Piutau is eager to play alongside brother Siale, the Tongan skipper.

ISRAEL FOLAU
Folau, who hasn’t played for the Wallabies since late 2018, could immediately make the switch to Tonga. Although born in Australia, his parents hail from the archipelago.

BYRON MCGUIGAN
The Scotland winger, who hasn’t featured internationally since 2019, will be eligible to play for Namibia (where he was born) in late 2022.

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JULIAN SAVEA
The iconic All Black hasn’t played for the All Blacks since 2017 and the Wellington-born winger could theoretically play for Samoa.

GEORGE MOALA
The former All Blacks centre now plays his rugby in Europe but could switch to Tonga, having not featured for New Zealand since 2016.

GEORGE KRUIS
Former England second-row Kruis could eventually play for Canada through his Canadian father, although he’d have to wait until March, 2023.

JORDI MURPHY
Born in Spain, Murphy hasn’t played for Ireland since the 2019 Rugby World Cup and would come on line so to speak in 2022 as a result.

VAEA FIFITA
After an incredibly bright start to his Test career, Fifita failed to make Steven Hansen’s 2019 Rugby World Cup and could potentially play for Tonga in the summer of 2022.

MORGAN PARRA
A left-field one, but the French great Morgan Parra could technically play for Portugal, the country of his father’s birth. The 33-year-old hasn’t played for France since 2018.

DENNY SOLOMONA
The Sale Sharks wing could play for Samoa having not added to his five caps for England since 2017.

STEVEN LUATUA
The Bristol Bears star could play for Samoa but it seems unlikely, with the No.8 previously saying: “I have Samoan heritage but I wouldn’t trade in my time with the All Blacks for that at the moment.”

DON ARMAND
The Exeter Chiefs flanker won just two caps for England, the last coming in 2018. He was born in Harare and could feature for Zimbabwe.

TEVITA KURIDRANI
The centre hasn’t played for Australia at the RWC in Japan. Currently playing his rugby for the Western Force, he could declare for Fiji in 2022.

HENRY SPEIGHT
Now 33, Speight could technically play for Fiji, having not worn the green and gold of Australia since 2017.

NGANI LAUMAPE
Many think he should still be playing for the All Blacks but he never quite nailed down a starting jersey. Hasn’t played in black since 2019 and could switch to Tonga in 2022.

MALAKAI FEKITOA
Once a staple of the All Blacks midfield, Fekitoa could be line for to don the red of Tonga immediately, should he decide to.

LIMA SOPAGA
The former All Blacks standoff is immediately eligible for Samoa, his last appearance for New Zealand coming against Wales in the 2017 November Tests.

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J
Jon 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

30 Go to comments
A
Adrian 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

30 Go to comments
T
Trevor 12 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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