Rugby’s relaxed rules regarding players nationality is creating more controversy than ever, with 134 foreign-born players participating across the summer internationals.
According to RUCK’s research, the games will feature four New Zealanders playing for Ireland against the All Blacks, a Canadian playing for Scotland, a Scot playing for New Zealand, a Cypriot playing for England, Eight Englishmen playing for Wales, and an Islander playing for just about everyone.
To many fans that may sound ridiculous, but switching allegiances has been an intrinsic part of international rugby union for years.
The ease with which players can move abroad, naturalise and begin representing a country to which they had no former ties is a loophole that has been exploited by most rugby-playing nations.
Today we’re looking at all four home nations along with their opponents this summer. We’ve also included Six Nations winners France, who tour Japan.
FULL LIST OF PLAYERS SWAPPING NATIONS
SOUTH AFRICA vs WALES
SOUTH AFRICA – 0:
WALES – 10:
- Tomas Francis (England)
- Ben Carter (England)
- Will Rowlands (England)
- Taulupe Faletau (Tonga)
- Dan Lydiate (England)
- Gareth Anscombe (New Zealand)
- George North (England)
- Nick Tompkins (England)
- Johnny Williams (England)
- Alex Cuthbert (England)
