Reports today suggest World Cup winner Tawera Kerr-Barlow has revealed that he wishes to represent Australia in the upcoming World Cup.
The 32-year-old scrumhalf, who currently plays for Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle in Top 14, is eligible to play for the Wallabies having been born in Melbourne.
World Rugby introduced new laws in 2021, which allow players to switch national teams once in their career, to a country which they were born in or have a parent or grandparent born there, while they must have been absent from test rugby for three years.
“Unlike New Zealand, Australia have a rule allowing players who are overseas to still be eligible for selection,” Kerr-Barlow told RugbyRama.
“I am available to play for the Wallabies! I was born there. I have a lot of ties in this country and if the coaching staff calls me I will go without hesitation. It would be a great opportunity but for the moment I am focused on La Rochelle.”
A number of England players, including Danny Cipriani Zach Mercer, could also swap nations in the coming years.
Below, we pick out five England players you didn’t know could swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, either immediately or in the run-up to the tournament.
#1. Zach Mercer (England to New Zealand)
- Age: 24
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 2
- Last cap: November, 2018
- Did you know? His father is former rugby league footballer and coach Gary Mercer, who played for New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
