"Becoming a joke" - More players changing nations than ever this summer with 78 swapping

Rugby News
Monday, 27 June 2022 at 11:53
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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:

  1. Tomas Francis (England)
  2. Ben Carter (England)
  3. Will Rowlands (England)
  4. Taulupe Faletau (Tonga)
  5. Dan Lydiate (England)
  6. Gareth Anscombe (New Zealand)
  7. George North (England)
  8. Nick Tompkins (England)
  9. Johnny Williams (England)
  10. Alex Cuthbert (England)
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NEW ZEALAND vs IRELAND

NEW ZEALAND - 11:

  1. Samisoni Taukei'aho (Tonga)
  2. Aidan Ross (Australia)
  3. Nepo Laulala (Samoa)
  4. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Tonga)
  5. Akira Ioane (Japan)
  6. Pita Gus Sowakula (Fiji)
  7. Finlay Christie (Scotland)
  8. Folau Fakatava (Tonga)
  9. Roger Tuivasa Sheck (Samoa)
  10. Leicester Fainga'anuku (Tonga)
  11. Sevu Reece (Fiji)

IRELAND - 11:

  1. Rob Herring (South Africa)
  2. Finlay Bealham (Australia)
  3. Jeremy Loughman (USA)
  4. Joe McCarthy (USA)
  5. Kieran Treadwell (Ireland)
  6. Jamison Gibson-Park (New Zealand)
  7. Joey Carbery (New Zealand)
  8. Bundee Aki (New Zealand)
  9. Ciarán Frawley (Australia)
  10. Mack Hansen (Australia)
  11. James Lowe (New Zealand)
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Bundee Aki of Ireland watching the on going scrum during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 12th March 2022 - PHOTO: George Tewkesbury/PPAUK

AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND

AUSTRALIA - 7:

  1. Taniela Tupou (Tonga)
  2. Quade Cooper (New Zealand)
  3. Noah Lolesio (New Zealand)
  4. Samu Kerevi (Fiji)
  5. Hunter Paisami (Samoa)
  6. Marika Koroibete (Fiji)
  7. Suliasi Vunivalu (FiJi)
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ENGLAND - 8:

  1. Bevan Rodd (Scotland)
  2. Mako Vunipola (England)
  3. Patrick Schickerling (Namibia)
  4. Sam Underhill (USA)
  5. Billy Vunipola (Australia)
  6. Marcus Smith (Phillipines)
  7. Henry Arundell (Cyprus)
  8. Joe Cokanasiga (Fiji)
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Marcus Smith of England scores a penalty during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

ARGENTINA vs SCOTLAND

ARGENTINA - 0:
SCOTLAND - 16:
  1. Ewan Ashman (Canada)
  2. Johnny Matthews (England)
  3. Pierre Schoeman (South Africa)
  4. Javan Sebastian (Wales)
  5. Sam Skinner (England)
  6. Andy Christie (England)
  7. Bem Muncaster (England)
  8. Hamish Watson (England)
  9. Ali Price (England)
  10. Ben White (England)
  11. Rory Hutchinson (England)
  12. Sam Johnson (Australia)
  13. Sione Tuipulotu (Australia)
  14. Rufus McLean (USA)
  15. Kyle Rowe (England)
  16. Duhan van de Merwe (South Africa)
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Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland slips the tackle from Maro Itoje of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship, 127th Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on January 6 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

JAPAN vs FRANCE

JAPAN - 11:

  1. Asaeli Ai Valu (Tonga)
  2. Craig Millar (New Zealand)
  3. Warner Dearns (New Zealand)
  4. Jack Cornelsen (Australia)
  5. Ben Gunter (Thailand)
  6. Lappies Labuschagné (South Africa)
  7. Michael Leitch (New Zealand)
  8. Faulua Makisi (Tonga)
  9. Dylan Riley (Australia)
  10. Siosaia Fifita (Tonga)
  11. Gerhard van den Heever (South Africa)
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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Japan captain Michael Leitch addresses the media during a Japan Press Conference at the Hilton Hotel on September 21, 2015 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

FRANCE:

  1. Peato Mauvaka (New Caledonia)
  2. Dany Priso (Cameroon)
  3. Yoram Moefana (Futuna)
  4. Virimi Vakatawa (Fiji)
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