Law change reduces number of foreign-born players in Ireland and Scotland Six Nations squads
Rugby NewsThursday, 29 January 2026 at 20:39
World Rugby has quietly introduced a rule change in 2024 that could have huge consequences for international rugby — and Ireland and Scotland may be among the nations most affected.
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The residency requirement for international eligibility has been increased from three years to five. In simple terms, players who move abroad as adults will now have to wait much longer before they can pull on the jersey of their adopted country.
For some, it could delay their debut significantly — for others, it may close the door entirely.
And Scotland’s own Six Nations figures show just how much this change could reshape squad-building.
Scotland: A pipeline under threat
Scotland have become one of the clearest examples of a nation benefiting from residency-qualified talent in the professional era. Players such as Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe both moved from South Africa and became eligible through residency.
Under the old three-year rule, Scotland were able to integrate them quickly. Under the new five-year requirement, their debuts would have been delayed significantly — removing key weapons from the squad during crucial Six Nations campaigns.
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The numbers underline how much Scotland have relied on foreign-qualified players in recent years:
- 2021 Six Nations – 23
- 2022 Six Nations – 27
- 2023 Six Nations – 22
- 2024 Six Nations – 24
- 2025 Six Nations – 22
- 2026 Six Nations – 14
That projected drop from 22 down to 14 is striking. It suggests that as the five-year residency rule takes effect, Scotland could see a sharp reduction in the number of overseas-developed players available for selection.
Sione Tuipulotu, by contrast, is unaffected because he qualifies through ancestry — his grandmother was born in Scotland. That may become an increasingly important route for Scotland moving forward, as residency signings take longer to come through.
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Ireland: A warning sign
Ireland may not have the same historical reliance in raw numbers, but the impact is still obvious when you look at individuals. Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, and Mack Hansen all arrived in Ireland as adults.
Under the old system, they became eligible quickly and transformed Ireland’s squad depth. Under the new five-year rule, their international careers would have been postponed — or in some cases, might never have happened.
Bigger implications
The residency extension is more than a minor adjustment. It forces nations that have leaned on fast-tracked overseas talent to rethink their recruitment strategies.
For Scotland especially, the Six Nations numbers make the trend clear: fewer quick residency additions are coming, and a greater emphasis will fall on producing — or retaining — homegrown talent.
World Rugby may have slipped the change in quietly, but it could reshape international rugby for years to come.
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Who has the most foreign-born players? 2026 Six Nations
The Six Nations has always been rooted in tradition — but in the modern era, international squads are increasingly shaped by migration, ancestry, and residency eligibility.
In 2026, foreign-born players remain a major part of the championship picture, although the overall numbers have fallen sharply compared to recent years.
Scotland — 14 foreign-born players (35%)
- Homegrown: 26/40 (65%)
- Foreign-born: 14/40 (35%)
Scotland once again lead the Six Nations for overseas-born representation.
Full list (Scotland)
Nathan McBeth — South Africa (Grandparent)
Pierre Schoeman — South Africa (Residency, 2021)
Ewan Ashman — Canada (Parent)
Elliot Millar Mills — England (Parent)
Josh Bayliss — England (Grandparent)
Jack Dempsey — Australia (Grandparent)
Ben White — England (Grandparent)
Fergus Burke — New Zealand (Grandparent)
Tom Jordan — New Zealand (Residency, 2024)
Rory Hutchinson — England (Grandparent)
Sione Tuipulotu — Australia (Grandparent)
Kyle Rowe — England (Cumulative Residency)
Kyle Steyn — South Africa (Parent)
Duhan van der Merwe — South Africa (Residency, 2020)
Wales — 9 foreign-born players (23.6%)
- Homegrown: 29/38 (76.3%)
- Foreign-born: 9/38 (23.6%)
Wales sit mid-table, with most foreign-born players coming through English development pathways or overseas heritage.
Full list (Wales)
Tomas Francis — England (Grandparent)
Archie Griffin — Australia (Parent)
Ben Carter — England (Residency, 2004)
Freddie Thomas — England (Grandparent)
Olly Cracknell — England (Grandparent)
Josh MacLeod — Monaco (Residency, 2004)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb — England (Parent)
Ellis Mee — England (Parent)
Blair Murray — New Zealand (Parent)
Italy — 8 foreign-born players (24.2%)
- Homegrown: 24/33 (72.7%)
- Foreign-born: 8/33 (24.2%)
Italy continue to benefit from a diverse talent pool, drawing on Argentine heritage and residency-qualified backs.
Full list (Italy)
Pablo Dimcheff — Argentina (Grandparent)
Muhamad Hasa — Albania (Residency, 2014)
Martin Page-Relo — France (Grandparent)
Stephen Varney — Wales (Parent)
Juan Ignacio Brex — Argentina (Grandparent)
Paolo Odogwu — England (Parent)
Montana Ioane — Australia (Residency, 2020)
Matt Gallagher — England (Grandparent)
Ireland — 8 foreign-born players (20%)
- Homegrown: 34/40 (85%)
- Foreign-born: 8/40 (20%)
Ireland remain one of the most homegrown squads in the championship, but several key players — especially in the backline — were born abroad.
Full list (Ireland)
Jeremy Loughman — USA (Parent)
Finlay Bealham — Australia (Grandparent)
Cormac Izuchukwu — England (Parent)
Joe McCarthy — USA (Parent)
Jamison Gibson-Park — New Zealand (Residency, 2019)
Ciarán Frawley — Australia (Parent)
Bundee Aki — New Zealand (Residency, 2017)
James Lowe — New Zealand (Residency, 2020)
France — 7 foreign-born players (15.5%)
- Homegrown: 39/45 (86.6%)
- Foreign-born: 7/45 (15.5%)
France have one of the strongest domestic player bases, but still include a handful of residency-qualified forwards.
Full list (France)
Dany Priso — Cameroon (Residency, 2008)
Uini Atonio — New Zealand (Residency, 2014)
Tevita Tatafu — Tonga (Residency, 2024)
Joshua Brennan — Ireland (Residency, 2005)
Thibaud Flament — Belgium (Born in France)
Emmanuel Meafou — New Zealand (Residency, 2023)
Tom Staniforth — Australia (Residency, 2025)
England — 6 foreign-born players (16.6%)
- Homegrown: 34/36 (94.4%)
- Foreign-born: 6/36 (16.6%)
England have the most domestically produced squad in the tournament, with only a small group born outside the country.
Full list (England)
Bevan Rodd — Scotland (Parent)
Emmanuel Iyogun — Spain (Residency)
Sam Underhill — USA (Parent)
Marcus Smith — Philippines (Parent)
Henry Arundell — Dhekelia (Parent)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso — Wales (Grandparent)
Ranking: Most foreign-born players (2026)
- Scotland — 14
- Wales — 9
- Italy — 8
- Ireland — 8
- France — 7
- England — 6
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