2018 Six Nations sees a quarter of players swapping countries

2018 Six Nations sees a quarter of players swapping countries

RUCK has analysed the players selected for the 2018 Six Nations and it shows 25% of players were born outside the country they represent.

56 of the 216 players selected for the 2018 Six Nations were born outside the country they will represent — a quarter of the participants.

In the 1987 tournament just five players, one from each nation, were born overseas and nine in total played for a country different from their birthplace.

But our research reveals:

ENGLAND (8/35)

Stuart Lancaster had only three foreign-born players on his World Cup roster. Eddie Jones swiftly went about making changes in 2016, which included increasing the number of players born outside of England to 12. In 2017 it decreased to seven but this year it is up to eight. It would likely be higher if Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes were available.

1. Dylan Hartley – New Zealand – Parent
2. Mako Vunipola – born in New Zealand – Parent
3. Sam Underhill – born in the USA – Parent
4. Marcus Smith – born in the Philippines – Parent
5. Denny Solomona – born in New Zeland – Residency (2017)
6. Ben Te’o – born in New Zealand – Parent
7. Gary Graham – born in Scotland – Residency
8. Alec Hepburn – born in Australia – Parent

FRANCE (3/32)

Les Bleus only have three foreign-born players in their squad this year. The country has made a major change in philosophy after Phillipe Saint-Andre who took 10 to the World Cup in England in 2015.

1. Sébastien Vahaamahina – born in New Caledonia – Residency
2. Virimi Vakatawa – born in New Zealand – Residency (2013)
3. Cedate Gomes Sa – born in Guinea – Residency
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