Is it possible to play rugby for a national team other than your own?
I currently play rugby in America, and im wondering if it is possible to play rugby for a team like the british and irish lions, or possibly like the All Blacks if you are not originally from that country
Hey Andrew when we are all at it, you have a very narrow minded opinion about NH supporters. Just because you feel the need to have a go at someone over what they claimed weather right or wrong dont go brand the rest of us. Btw if your talking about Riki Flutey being one of England’s best then dont flatter yourself butty cos he aint. Now that is a typical SH attitude … "oh he was born in the SH so he must be better than most NH players …" go take a lie down for yourself will ya boy.
Now to answer your question. Some countries have certain rules about this. For example Isa Nacewa playing in Ireland at Leinster, born in New Zealand, wants to play for New Zealand but cant because of the system in place, as he played one game for Fiji a few years back. Its really the Sports governing body in each country that essentially decides if a players can be capped at International level. Also Ronan O Gara moved to Ireland a few months after he was born to Irish Parents – not American born. If thats the case where we are from the location of our birth then im from Waterford …… I aint.
@Andrew – How am i a hypocrite eh? Dont go using terminology if you dont understand the meaning butty. The word your looking for is petty or childish. You have just proved why SH folk are so cocky. If Hape was one of the best in England as you claim then he would be the 1st to come to mind …… he wasnt obviously. Btw im Irish so can you tell me what Leinster players (Or Munster for that matter), if they were not in Ireland would be on the starting 15 of SH teams at International level?? Il give you a clue …… NONE!!!!!!
Comments
Yes, if you have parents or grandparents from that country or if you have lived in that country for 3 years. Loads of players have done it.
Riki Flutey, New Zealand born but played for England and the Lions
Diego DomÃnguez, Argentine born but played for Argentina and Italy
Jonah Lomu, Tongan born but played for New Zealand
Ronan O’Gara, American born but played for Ireland and the Lions
It’s a problem in small countries like Fiji, Tonga and Samoa where a lot of players go to play in Australia and New Zealand clubs and play for the national teams on residency grounds. They get one game and then they can’t play for their home country ever.
References :
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/upload/file/1287399004_gfirbregulation8_883.PDF
Well first of all you have to be able to make the team — and even in minnow countries like Canada or the USA, rugby internationals are increasingly full-time athletes who earn their living playing the sport. Because there is no professional league in North America, a lot of our players are with club sides in Europe.
Anyway, they play far above the casual club level, even if they might not be up to Kiwi standards..
But assuming you are good enough, IRB regulations are quite specific on eligibility. You may play for a nation if:
(1) You were born in that country; or
(2) You had a parent or grandparent born in that country; or
(3) You have three or more years of uninterrupted residence in that country.
All of the above is qualified by the rule that once you have appeared on the field for one nation in an international test match you cannot (in the future) represent any other country.
A good example is Sony Bill Williams — a current All-Black centre. He was born in New Zealand, but had grandparents born in both Australia and Tonga. He also met the three year eligibility rule while playing in France for Toulouse. He could have played in the upcoming world cup for any of those four nations, but now that he has played in international matches for New Zealand, he cannot (under current rules) play for any other nation.
References :
If you want to see the actual wording of the rule, see IRB Regulations 8.1 and 8.2 at http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/28/42328_pdf.pdf
Jusbeind.
I just read your trollop of an answer about the AB’s stripping Samoa and Fiji of their talent a quick look through their squad found 3 players in Europe not born in NZ but all three (Joe Roks, Mils, Kaino) all came through the NZ schooling system ie learned everything here. Now we can compare that with players born in NZ playing overseas for their adopted countries and i can assure you that number will be a lot higher. Hell you can equal that number with coaches Deans, Gatland and Kirwan just off the top of my head.
So pull your head in and look in your own backyard where ever that is
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Jusbeindave
Every single All Black is a New Zealander. Some moved there from other countries, but all are now kiwis.
Not one of the current team moved to New Zealand at an adult age, they all grew up and learned their rugby in New Zealand.
Your attitude is typical of Northern Hemisphere types who have no idea what they are talking about, but simply repeat what they have heard. Funny, when you consider one of England’s best players is a Kiwi who DID move to the UK as an adult, and there are many more around the place.
@Seamus, I wasn’t talking about Flutey, actually, I was talking about Hape. Way to prove my point, you guys have poached so many you can’t keep track of them all!
Fact remains that Hape was already an international footballer when he started playing for England. That’s poaching. Someone like Mealamu or Umaga moving to NZ as a child and growing up playing rugby in NZ is not.
Btw, because I called Dave a typical NHer, I’m a typical SHer? Nice logic there, hypocrite.
References :
Hey Andrew when we are all at it, you have a very narrow minded opinion about NH supporters. Just because you feel the need to have a go at someone over what they claimed weather right or wrong dont go brand the rest of us. Btw if your talking about Riki Flutey being one of England’s best then dont flatter yourself butty cos he aint. Now that is a typical SH attitude … "oh he was born in the SH so he must be better than most NH players …" go take a lie down for yourself will ya boy.
Now to answer your question. Some countries have certain rules about this. For example Isa Nacewa playing in Ireland at Leinster, born in New Zealand, wants to play for New Zealand but cant because of the system in place, as he played one game for Fiji a few years back. Its really the Sports governing body in each country that essentially decides if a players can be capped at International level. Also Ronan O Gara moved to Ireland a few months after he was born to Irish Parents – not American born. If thats the case where we are from the location of our birth then im from Waterford …… I aint.
@Andrew – How am i a hypocrite eh? Dont go using terminology if you dont understand the meaning butty. The word your looking for is petty or childish. You have just proved why SH folk are so cocky. If Hape was one of the best in England as you claim then he would be the 1st to come to mind …… he wasnt obviously. Btw im Irish so can you tell me what Leinster players (Or Munster for that matter), if they were not in Ireland would be on the starting 15 of SH teams at International level?? Il give you a clue …… NONE!!!!!!
References :
- and even in minnow countries like Canada or the USA, rugby internationals are increasingly full-time athletes who earn their living playing the sport. Because there is no professional league in North America, a lot of our players are with club sides in Europe.
References :
Details more and copy to paste
http://rugbystreams.com/
References :
November 28th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
The answer is a tentative YES. The mighty All Blacks have stripped the Fijians and samoans of their better players and given them places so not all All Blacks are New Zealanders. There is a strong Australian feel to the Japanese team and British Commonwealth players are welcome in Ireland, wales, England and Scotland if they can prove a qualifying grandparent. You need first to get a place in a club in their domestic league.
The Lions are different as they are an ad hoc invitation side and not a permanent organisation.
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