The 2023 Rugby Championship kicks off next month, and is the final international competition ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina will compete in the two-legged round-robin tournament, to identify the dominant Southern Hemisphere side ahead of the World Cup.
The opening weekend of action takes place on Saturday 8th July, as the Springboks head down under to take on the Wallabies, and Argentina jet off to New Zealand for a clash against the All Blacks. Aside from the four nations on display, the competition will also see the likes of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Scotland and the USA represented by the 'foreign-born' players.
Here are all of the players who were born outside of the country they will represent, ahead of the 2023 Rugby Championships.
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New Zealand (10)
The All Blacks squad for the 2023 Rugby Championship, features 10 players who were born outside of the land known as Aotearoa. Eight out of these 10 players moved to New Zealand early in their lives, and are products of the New Zealand rugby system.
Australia Born (Parental Eligibility)
Ethan De Groot - Loosehead Prop
Tyrel Lomax - Tighthead Prop / Former Australia U20s
Tonga Born (Residency Eligibility)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi - Loosehead Prop
Samisoni Taukei’aho - Hooker / Former Tonga U19s
Samipeni Finau - Flanker
Shannon Frizzell - Flanker / Forner Tonga U20s
Leicester Fainga’anuku - Winger
Samoa Born (Residency Eligibility)
Nepo Laulala - Tighthead Prop
Fiji Born (Residency Eligibility)
Emoni Narawa - Winger
Scotland Born (Residency)
Finlay Christie - Scrum Half
Australia (7)
There are seven foreign-born players within the current Wallabies squad, with the latest names confirmed after Eddie Jones announced his side for the upcoming competition. Four of these players were produced within Australia's rugby systems, with the Pacific Islands once again having a significant impact upon the global game. The Wallabies also boast four players who were born in the land of their great rivals, New Zealand.
New Zealand Born (Residency Eligibility)
Jordan Uelese - Hooker
Will Skelton - Lock
Quade Cooper - Fly Half
Lalakai Foketi - Centre
Tonga Born (Residency Eligibility)
Taniela Tupou - Tighthead Prop / former Tonga U15s
Fiji Born (Residency Eligibility)
Marika Koroibete - Winger / former Fiji Rugby League
Suliasi Vunivalu - Winger / former Fiji Rugby League
Argentina (1)
Only one of the Los Pumas players was born outside of Argentina, which presents the outstanding home-grown efforts of the nation. Argentina will be looking to build on their phenomenal 2022 season, which saw them record historic victories over Australia and New Zealand. The sole overseas-born player comes from the United States, with a winger born in California.
USA Born (Parental Eligibility)
Sebastián Cancelliere - Winger
South Africa (0)
The Springboks enter the 2023 Rugby Championship with a squad of entirely home-grown talents. South Africa are undergoing their final preparations, as they embark on retaining their title as World Champions for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Every player in the 'Boks squad was born in South Africa, and is a product of the Springboks rugby system.
