Duhan van der Merwe has his say on potential Springbok switch

Tuesday, 07 July 2026 at 09:35

bySteven Smith

Duhan van der Merwe has left no room for doubt – his heart beats blue.

The rampaging Scotland winger has slammed shut any possibility of ever wearing the Springbok jersey, insisting the green-and-gold is off the table for good.

Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel
and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.

Instead, he’s fully committed to the nation that gave him his break, reaffirming the powerful connection he’s forged with Scotland on and off the pitch.

Built Like a Bulldozer

Standing at 6ft 4in and carved like Rustenburg granite, Duhan van der Merwe is a nightmare for defenders. With flowing blond hair and thundering runs, he could pass for a cross between Johnny Bravo and Action Man.

Heart Under the Muscle

Beneath the cartoonish destruction on the pitch lies a genuine emotional connection off it.

“When I speak about it, I get really emotional because it’s a country that has given me so much when I had nothing,” Duhan van der Merwe said.

From Montpellier Misfortune to Edinburgh Glory

After a tough spell at Montpellier – including a failed medical – Edinburgh took a chance on him. That decision changed the course of his career.

“I went over as a young boy and people don’t understand how hard it is, leaving your family behind, leaving everything behind, going to a country where you don’t know how things work,” he explained.

“Initially, my English wasn’t good at all. It was tough. People don’t understand how hard that transition is. It’s not easy, no one has guaranteed me: ‘Oh, Duhan, if you move over at the age of 22 you’ll be Scotland’s top try-scorer, you’ll have played 49 games for Scotland, you’ll go on a second Lions tour.’

“People don’t see the amount of hard work and sacrifice you put in because I wouldn’t be sitting here without it.”

Scottish Legend

Now Scotland’s all-time top try-scorer and a two-time British & Irish Lion, Duhan van der Merwe has cemented his place in Scottish rugby folklore – and he’s not about to swap allegiances anytime soon.

Every Nations Championship squad ranked by foreign-born players – from least to most

Using information and research from Americas Rugby News, we have ranked all 12 Nations Championship squads from the lowest percentage of foreign-born players to the highest.

It is important to note that foreign-born does not necessarily mean a player was developed overseas. Several players on this list moved countries as children and came through the rugby system of the nation they now represent.

12. Argentina – 0%

Foreign-born players: 0/35

Argentina are the only team in the inaugural Nations Championship with a squad made up entirely of players born and raised in the country.

Felipe Contepomi’s squad also highlights the continued growth of rugby outside its traditional Buenos Aires stronghold.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup, 27 of Argentina’s 31 players came from Buenos Aires province. In the current squad, that figure has fallen dramatically, with Córdoba and Tucumán now producing a growing number of internationals.

Foreign-born players: None

11. South Africa – 2.17%

Foreign-born players: 1/46

Rassie Erasmus has selected just one player born outside South Africa.

Vincent Tshituka was born in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before his family moved to South Africa when he was a child.

The flanker was entirely developed by the South African rugby system, meaning all 46 players in the Springboks squad are considered homegrown.

Foreign-born player:

Vincent Tshituka – Democratic Republic of the Congo

10. England – 8.33%

Foreign-born players: 3/36

Steve Borthwick has selected three players born outside England, with all three featuring in the backline.

Marcus Smith was born in the Philippines and first played rugby in Singapore before moving to England aged 13.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was born and raised in Wales, while Benhard Janse van Rensburg was born and developed in South Africa before qualifying for England.

England’s entire group of forwards were born and developed in the country.

Foreign-born players:

Marcus Smith – Philippines
Benhard Janse van Rensburg – South Africa
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Wales

9. Wales – 12.12%

Foreign-born players: 4/33

Steve Tandy’s squad contains four players born outside Wales.

Ben Carter was born in England but moved to Wales just weeks after his birth, while Max Llewellyn was also born in England but came through the Welsh system.

Ellis Mee was developed in England before being identified through his Welsh family connection, while Blair Murray was recruited from New Zealand.

Wales also have several players who were born in the country but developed elsewhere, including James Botham and Taine Plumtree.

Foreign-born players:

Ben Carter – England
Max Llewellyn – England
Ellis Mee – England
Blair Murray – New Zealand

8. France – 13.95%

Foreign-born players: 6/43

France have six players in their extended Nations Championship squad who were born outside the country.

Émilien Gailleton was born in England but moved to France aged three and is considered a product of the French system.

The remaining five were primarily developed elsewhere, including Australian products Emmanuel Meafou and Tom Staniforth.

Foreign-born players:

Moses Alo-Emile – Australia
Tevita Tatafu – Tonga
Emmanuel Meafou – New Zealand
Tom Staniforth – Australia
Émilien Gailleton – England
Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang – England

7. New Zealand – 14.71%

Foreign-born players: 5/34

Five members of the All Blacks squad were born outside New Zealand.

Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax were born in Australia, while Wallace Sititi was born in Samoa.

Samisoni Taukei’aho moved from Tonga to New Zealand aged 16, while Germany-born Anton Segner first arrived on a rugby scholarship aged 15.

All 15 backs selected in the squad were born and raised in New Zealand.

Foreign-born players:

Ethan de Groot – Australia
Samisoni Taukei’aho – Tonga
Tyrel Lomax – Australia
Anton Segner – Germany
Wallace Sititi – Samoa

6. Ireland – 16.67%

Foreign-born players: 6/36

Andy Farrell’s squad contains six players born outside the island of Ireland.

Four of them moved to Ireland as children and were developed by the Irish system: Jeremy Loughman, Cormac Izuchukwu, Joe McCarthy and Ciarán Frawley.

Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park are the two most high-profile examples of players recruited from New Zealand as established professional rugby players before qualifying on residency.

Foreign-born players:

Jeremy Loughman – USA
Cormac Izuchukwu – England
Joe McCarthy – USA
Jamison Gibson-Park – New Zealand
Ciarán Frawley – Australia
Bundee Aki – New Zealand

5. Australia – 18.92%

Foreign-born players: 7/37

Seven members of the Wallabies squad were born outside Australia.

However, several are considered homegrown Australian players after moving to the country at a young age.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa arrived aged four, Harry Potter moved aged 10 and Josh Canham played all of his rugby in Australia after moving as a child.

Others, including Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu, arrived later in their rugby development.

Foreign-born players:

Brandon Paenga-Amosa – New Zealand
Taniela Tupou – Tonga
Josh Canham – USA
Hunter Paisami – Samoa
Filipo Daugunu – Fiji
Harry Potter – England
Max Jorgensen – England

4=. Italy – 25%

Foreign-born players: 9/36

Italy have nine foreign-born players in their wider 36-man group.

Muhamad Hasa and Ion Neculai both moved to Italy as children and were developed by the Italian rugby system.

The squad also contains three Argentina-born players in Ivan Nemer, Pablo Dimcheff and Juan Ignacio Brex.

Interestingly, Italy also have two players born in the country who were primarily developed elsewhere: Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Allan.

Foreign-born players:

Ivan Nemer – Argentina
Pablo Dimcheff – Argentina
Muhamad Hasa – Albania
Ion Neculai – Moldova
Ross Vintcent – South Africa
Stephen Varney – Wales
Juan Ignacio Brex – Argentina
Paolo Odogwu – England
Montana Ioane – Australia

4=. Fiji – 25%

Foreign-born players: 8/32

Fiji are level with Italy, with eight of their 32 players born outside the country.

Five were born and raised in New Zealand, while the remaining three came through the rugby systems of Australia and England.

The squad also contains former All Black Pita-Gus Sowakula, who was born in Fiji before representing New Zealand and has now switched international allegiance back to his country of birth.

Foreign-born players:

Sam Matavesi – England
Zuriel Togiatama – New Zealand
Tim Hoyt – England
Isoa Nasilasila – Australia
Sam Wye – New Zealand
Caleb Muntz – New Zealand
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula – New Zealand
Salesi Rayasi – New Zealand

2. Japan – 37.14%

Foreign-born players: 13/35

Japan have 13 foreign-born players in their Nations Championship squad.

However, the make-up of the group is more complicated than the headline number suggests.

Captain Warner Dearns moved to Japan aged 14, while Michael Leitch arrived aged 15. Both are considered products of the Japanese rugby system.

Others, including Harry Hockings, Jack Cornelsen and Dylan Riley, moved to Japan later in their careers before qualifying through residency.

Foreign-born players:

Izi Sword – Australia
Jack Cornelsen – Australia
Warner Dearns – New Zealand
Harry Hockings – Australia
Michael Stolberg – Australia
Esei Haangana – Australia
Tiennan Costley – Australia
Ben Gunter – Thailand
Michael Leitch – New Zealand
Waisake Raratubua – Fiji
Dylan Riley – South Africa
Samisoni Tua – Tonga
Inoke Burua – Fiji

1. Scotland – 41.67%

Foreign-born players: 15/36

Scotland top the ranking, with 15 of their 36 players born outside the country.

Seven of the 22 forwards and eight of the 14 backs were born abroad.

The group includes players born in South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Captain Sione Tuipulotu was born and developed in Australia, while Jack Dempsey previously represented the Wallabies and Ben White played for England.

South Africa-born trio Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe and Nathan McBeth all represented the country at age-grade level.

Ireland team to face Japan - Andy Farrell awards three debuts

England forced into changes as two injuries are confirmed