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.

But our research reveals:

ENGLAND (8/35)

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)

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

IRELAND (9/36)

1. Rob Herring - born in South Africa - Grandparent

2. CJ Stander - born in South Africa - Residency (2015)

3. Quinn Roux - born in South Africa - Residency (2016)

4. Jordi Murphy - born in Spain - Parent

5. Luke McGrath - born in Canada - Parent

6. Bundee Aki - born in New Zealand - Residency (2017)

7. Joey Carbery - born in New Zealand - Parent

8. Ultan Dillane - born in France - Parent

9. Kieran Marmion - born in England - Parent

ITALY (8/34)

1. Dean Budd - born in New Zealand (Residency 2017)

2. Sergio Parisse - born in Argentina - Parent

3. Ian Mckinley - born in Ireland - Residency (2017

4. George Biagi - born in Scotland - Parent

5. Dario Chistolini - born in South Africa - Parent

6. Jayden Hayward - born in New Zealand (Residency 2017)

7. Abraham Steyn - born in South Africa - Residency (2015)

8. Sebastian Negri - born in Zimbabwe - Parent

SCOTLAND (19/40)

Unsurprisingly it’s the Scots who have the most players in the group. The number of foreign-born players has slightly risen from 18 a year ago to 19 today. It could have been three more had WP Nel, Tim Visser and Tim Swinson had not been ruled out with injury.

1. Ben Toolis – lock – born in Australia – Parent

2. Rob Harley – flanker – born in England – Parent

3. Hamish Watson – flanker – born in England – Grandparent

4. Ryan Wilson – number 8 – born in England – Grandparent

5. Nathan Fowles – scrum-half – born in England – Grandparent

6. Ali Price – scrum-half – born in England – Parent

7. Henry Pygros – Scrum-half – born in England – Parent

8. Ruaridh Jackson – fly-half – born in England – Parent

9. Chris Harris – centre – born in England – Grandparent

10. Duncan Taylor – centre- Born in England – Parents

11. John Barclay – flanker – born in Hong Kong – Parent

12. Byron McGuigan – winger – born in Namibia – Parent

13. Simon Berghan – prop – born in New Zealand – Grandparent

14. Nick Grigg – centre – born in New Zealand – Grandparent

15. Sean Maitland – winger– born in New Zealand – Grandparent

16. Cornell du Preez – number 8 – born in South Africa – Residency (2016)

17. Tommy Seymour – winger – born in the USA – Parent

18. Luke Hamilton – flanker – born in Wales – Parent

19. David Denton – Number Eight – born in Zimbabwe – Parent

WALES (9/39)

The Welsh roster for the 2016 Six Nations tournament included 13 foreign-born players but reduced to 10 the following year. The number for this year is down to nine. Most of the foreign-born players in the squad grew up in Wales with a few exceptions e.g. Hadleigh Parkes. Meanwhile, Ross Moriarty played for England u20’s before being called up to follow in his father’s footsteps to play for Wales.

1. Aaron Shingler - born in England - Residency

2. Tomas Francis - born in England - Grandparent

3. George North - born in England - Parent

4. Alex Cuthbert - born in England - Parent

5. Hallam Amos - born in England - Residency

6. Ross Moriarty - born in England - Parent

7. Hadleigh Parkes - born in New Zealand - Residency (2017)

8. Gareth Anscombe - born in New Zealand - Parent

9. Taulupe Faletau - born in Tonga - Residency (2001)