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Six Nations defectors: 40 players who swapped allegiances
Since 2000, a player has not been allowed to represent two different senior international sides during their Test career, which is a ruling that is constantly being scrutinised. Before then, plenty of players played for two countries, including some greats of the game.
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However, there is nothing stopping players from representing junior sides or even playing in unofficial matches before defecting to play for another Test side.
The Six Nations is awash with players who have done this, so here are some who have defected to another county during their career.
ENGLAND
BRAD SHIELDS
The eight-cap England flanker was not only a member of New Zealand’s U20s side earlier in his career, but was a member of an All Blacks training squad in 2012.
BRAD BARRITT
Saracens’ recently retired captain may have won 26 caps for England during his career, but he represented the Emerging Springboks in 2007 in the IRB Nations Cup, as well as South Africa U21s the year before.
NATHAN HUGHES
The 22-cap England international and current Bristol No8 played for Fiji Warriors in their victorious 2013 Pacific Rugby Cup campaign.
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BEN TE’O
In a varied career, he played rugby league for Samoa in 2008 before eventually playing union for England and the 2017 British and Irish Lions.
DENNY SOLOMONA
Like Te’o, the Sale Sharks winer played for Samoa in rugby league in 2016.
IRELAND
CJ STANDER
The back row captained South Africa U20s and trained with the Springboks in 2012 before joining Munster and later playing for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
MIKE HALEY
Munster’s one-cap full-back represented England Saxons against South Africa A in 2016 as well as an uncapped match against the Barbarians in 2017 before moving to Munster in 2018.
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JAMES LOWE
Leinster’s winger was capped by Ireland in the autumn but had previously played for the Maori All Blacks, starting 2014 against Japan and finishing against the 2017 Lions in Rotorua.
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK
Like Lowe, the Leinster scrum-half was capped by Ireland in the autumn having previously represented the Maori All Blacks.
BILLY BURNS
Ulster’s out-half was part of the England U20s that not only won the World Championship in 2014, but saw many of its players scatter over Europe.
WILL ADDISON
Ulster’s full-back represented England U20s in 2012.
RICHARD STRAUSS
The ex-Leinster hooker who was capped by Ireland won the 2005 U19s World Championship with South Africa and was a cousin of former Springboks hooker Adriaan Strauss.
WALES
NICK TOMPKINS
The Dragons centre was another member of England’s U20s World Championship-winning side. He furthermore played for England Saxons against South Africa A in 2016 alongside Ireland’s Haley.
CALLUM SHEEDY
Like Tompkins, the Brostol out-half was capped for Wales in 2020 having played for England in some capacity. Although born in Cardiff, he came off the bench for England against the Barbarians in an uncapped match in 2019.
JOHNNY WILLIAMS
The final member of a trio of Welsh debutants last year who have worn an England shirt, the Scarlets centre started in the Barbarians fixture in 2019.
GARETH ANSCOMBE
Ospreys’ fly-half represented New Zealand at U20s level in 2011.
ROSS MORIARTY
The Dragons loose forward was a member of the England U20s side alongside Tompkins in 2014.
SCOTLAND
CAMERON REDPATH
The latest call-up to the Scotland squad, Bath’s midfielder was called into Eddie Jones’ England training camp last year.
GARY GRAHAM
Newcastle’s forward was a member of an England squad in the past (2018 Six Nations), but he was born in Scotland, had represented their U20s side and has been capped twice Gregor Townsend.
SEAN MAITLAND
Saracens’ winger has been a feature for Scotland since 2013, but he previously represented the Maori All Blacks in 2010 and New Zealand U20s in 2008.
BLADE THOMSON
Scarlets’ loose forward has had a similar career to Maitland, as he too played for the Maori All Blacks on multiple occasions and New Zealand U20s in 2010.
CHRIS HARRIS
Gloucester’s centre represented England Counties in 2013.
OLI KEBBLE
Glasgow Warriors’ loosehead earned his first cap in the autumn having won the World Rugby U20s Championship with South Africa in 2012.
DUHAN VAN DER MERWE
Another newly capped Scotland player, the winger played with Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel for South Africa U20s in 2014.
CORNELL DU PREEZ
Worcester Warriors’ back row played for South Africa U20s in 2011.
ALLAN DELL
London Irish’s loosehead was a member of the same world champion South African age-geade side as Kebble in 2012.
SAM SKINNER
Exeter Chiefs’ lock was capped by Scotland in 2018 despite playing for England U20s in 2015.
TOMMY SEYMOUR
The Glasgow Warriors and ex-Scotland winger was born in the USA and represented Ireland U19s in 2007.
JOHN HARDIE
Scotland’s ex-flanker played alongside Maitland for New Zealand U20s.
FRANCE
PAUL WILLEMSE
Montpellier’s bruising lock was in the same South Africa U20s side as Scotland’s Kebble and Dell.
VIRIMI VAKATAWA
Racing 92’s midfielder represented Fiji U19s in 2009 before becoming a France 7s player in 2013 and later a Test centre.
UINI ATONIO
The New Zealand-born La Rochelle tighthead played for Samoa U20s in 2009.
ANTOINE CLAASSEN
Racing 92’s ex-France flanker represented South Africa U19s way back in 2003.
ITALY
JAYDEN HAYWARD
Benetton’s full-back was part of New Zealand 7s training camp under Gordon Tietjens in 2007.
BRAM STEYN
Like Kebble, Dell and Willemse, Benetton’s flanker was also a world champion in 2012 with South Africa U20s.
'I woke up every morning thinking I made the wrong decision.'
Cynics might look at @BraamSteyn like just another Saffa project player, but that's not the half of it, as @JLyall93 👨💻 finds out https://t.co/v0flmeDqhB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 27, 2020
DAVE SISI
Zebre’s lock played for England U20s in 2012 and 2013 before switching to play for Italy in 2019.
IAN McKINLEY
The former fly-half was capped by Ireland U20s in 2009 before resurrecting his career in Italy after being blinded in one eye.
RugbyPass Exceptional Stories 🎬🎥
The inspirational story of Ian McKinley's journey back into professional rugby, after losing complete vision in his left eye.
Narrated by Jim Hamilton. https://t.co/TfJZ4BXwdO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 13, 2018
CALLUM BRALEY
Another teammate of Wales’ Moriarty and Tompkins, and Ireland’s Burns for the world-beating 2014 England U20s, the Benetton scrum-half debuted for Italy in 2019.
DEAN BUDD
The ex-Italy captain represented New Zealand U19s in 2005.
LUKE McLEAN
Although he earned 89-caps for Italy during his career, the former full-back won the U19s World Championship with Australia in 2006.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments