We've ranked all 12 Autumn Nations Championship squads by the percentage of foreign-born players – with some surprising results for England, Scotland and the Springboks.
One nation has more than 40% of its squad born overseas, while another has just one foreign-born player.
England sit towards the bottom of the rankings, while the All Blacks, Ireland and Australia all feature further up the list.
We've examined the November squads, counting players by birthplace rather than nationality or eligibility. For France, this includes players born in French overseas territories.
Here's how all 12 nations rank, from 12 to 1.
12. South Africa – 2.7% (1 of 37)
The Springboks have just one identified overseas-born player in Rassie Erasmus' 37-man squad.
Overseas-born player:
- Emmanuel Tshituka – Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Sharks back-row forward was born in Kinshasa before developing his rugby career in South Africa.
His brother Vincent Tshituka was also born in the DRC, although he was not included in the November selection.
South Africa have the lowest percentage of any nation in our comparison.
11. Argentina – 3.0% (1 of 33)
Argentina are just above the Springboks, with one overseas-born player in their 33-man selection.
Overseas-born player:
- Juan Martín Scelzo – France
The Stade Français back-row forward was born in Narbonne while his father, former Argentina prop Martín Scelzo, was playing in France.
His inclusion is an interesting development, with Argentina having recorded no overseas-born players in their July selection.
10. England – 8.3% (3 of 36)
Steve Borthwick's England have three overseas-born players in their 36-man November squad.
Overseas-born players:
- Marcus Smith – Philippines
- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Wales
- Emmanuel Iyogun – Spain
Smith was born in Manila, while Feyi-Waboso was born in Cardiff and previously represented Wales at age-grade level.
Northampton Saints prop Iyogun was born in Madrid.
Feyi-Waboso is included in England's latest squad despite recent fitness concerns.
The three players account for just 8.3% of Borthwick's selection.
England have also been dealing with a number of injuries ahead of their Nations Championship opener, with Alex Mitchell among the players ruled out.
9. Fiji – 14.3% (5 of 35)
Five players identified in Fiji's 35-man squad were born overseas.
Overseas-born players:
- Zuriel Togiatama – New Zealand
- Isoa Nasilasila – Australia
- Caleb Muntz – New Zealand
- Ben Volavola – Australia
- Salesi Rayasi – New Zealand
There are also two interesting names who do not count.
Nathan Hughes previously represented England, while Pita-Gus Sowakula played for the All Blacks.
However, both were born in Fiji.
It shows why international allegiance and birthplace need to be treated separately.
8. Wales – 17.9% (7 of 39)
Wales have seven identified overseas-born players in their November selection.
Overseas-born players:
- Tomas Francis – England
- Archie Griffin – Australia
- Ben Carter – England
- Gabriel Hamer-Webb – England
- Ellis Mee – England
- Blair Murray – New Zealand
- Max Llewellyn – England
Blair Murray was born in New Zealand before joining the Scarlets and earning international recognition with Wales.
Archie Griffin, meanwhile, was born in Australia.
Wales' overseas-born contingent is largely made up of players born in England, reflecting the close links between the two rugby nations.
7. France – 19.0% (8 of 42)
France have eight players born outside metropolitan France in their updated 42-man selection.
Players born outside metropolitan France:
- Joshua Brennan – Ireland
- Tyler Duguid – Canada
- Thomas Staniforth – Australia
- Émilien Gailleton – England
- Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang – England
- Peato Mauvaka – New Caledonia
- Yoram Moefana – Wallis and Futuna
- Sipili Falatea – Wallis and Futuna
France's figures come with an important distinction.
Mauvaka, Moefana and Falatea were born in French overseas territories. They were not born in foreign countries.
Joshua Brennan is another interesting example, having been born in Ireland. He is the son of controversial former Ireland international Trevor Brennan.
5=. Ireland – 19.4% (7 of 36)
Ireland have seven overseas-born players in their 36-man squad.
Overseas-born players:
- Bundee Aki – New Zealand
- Jamison Gibson-Park – New Zealand
- Mack Hansen – Australia
- Joe McCarthy – United States
- Ciarán Frawley – Australia
- Sean Jansen – New Zealand
- Jamie Benson – England
Aki, Gibson-Park and Hansen are three of the best-known examples.
However, Ireland's list also includes players who moved to the country as children.
Joe McCarthy was born in New York, while Ciarán Frawley was born in Australia.
The seven players account for 19.4% of the squad, putting Ireland level with New Zealand.
Bundee Aki of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 9th 2024. - PHOTO: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
5=. New Zealand – 19.4% (7 of 36)
The All Blacks are level with Ireland, with seven overseas-born players in their November selection.
Overseas-born players:
- Ethan de Groot – Australia
- Saula Ma'u – Tonga
- Fabian Holland – Netherlands
- Anton Segner – Germany
- Leicester Fainga'anuku – Tonga
- Wallace Sititi – Samoa
- Timoci Tavatavanawai – Fiji
Two names stand out.
Fabian Holland was born in the Netherlands, while Anton Segner was born in Germany.
The squad also includes players born across the Pacific, including Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
New Zealand's figure is exactly the same as Ireland's, with both nations recording seven overseas-born players from 36 selections.
New Zealand's Wallace Sititi, Jordie Barrett, Peter Lakai celebrates Cameron Roigard's try during the Autumn Nations Series between France and New Zealand at Stade de France, Paris, France Saturday, November 16th, 2024 (Photo by Tom Maher / Inpho)
4. Australia – 24.2% (8 of 33)
Almost a quarter of Australia's 33-man squad were born outside the country.
Overseas-born players:
- Brandon Paenga-Amosa – New Zealand
- Taniela Tupou – Tonga
- Josh Canham – United States
- Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – New Zealand
- Hunter Paisami – Samoa
- Filipo Daugunu – Fiji
- Harry Potter – England
- Max Jorgensen – England
Taniela Tupou is perhaps the most recognisable name on the list.
The powerful prop was born in Tonga before moving to Australia.
Josh Canham was born in the United States, while Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen were both born in England.
Australia are the highest-ranked Rugby Championship nation in our comparison.
3. Italy – 30.3% (10 of 33)
Italy become the first nation to pass the 30% mark.
Ten players in Gonzalo Quesada's updated 33-man selection were born outside Italy.
Overseas-born players:
- Muhamed Hasa – Albania
- Ion Neculai – Moldova
- Ivan Nemer – Argentina
- Ross Vintcent – South Africa
- Stephen Varney – Wales
- Domingo Miotti – Argentina
- Paolo Odogwu – England
- Matt Gallagher – England
- Monty Ioane – Australia
- Ange Capuozzo – France
The Azzurri's overseas-born players come from several continents.
Ange Capuozzo was born in France, while Domingo Miotti and Ivan Nemer were both born in Argentina.
Italy also have overseas-born players unavailable for the current selection, including Juan Ignacio Brex and Sebastian Negri.
With 30.3% of the squad born elsewhere, Italy finish third.
2. Japan – 36.1% (13 of 36)
Japan sit second, with 13 identified overseas-born players in their 36-man registered squad.
Overseas-born players:
- Opeti Helu – Tonga
- Jack Cornelsen – Australia
- Michael Stolberg – Australia
- Warner Dearns – New Zealand
- Ruan Botha – South Africa
- Harry Hockings – Australia
- Ben Gunter – Thailand
- Tiennan Costley – New Zealand
- Esei Haangana – Australia
- Samisoni Tua – Tonga
- Dylan Riley – South Africa
- Charlie Lawrence – Hong Kong
- Inoke Burua – Fiji
Japan's squad features players born across several continents.
Ben Gunter is one of the most unusual examples, having been born in Thailand before growing up in Australia.
Dylan Riley was born in South Africa, while Charlie Lawrence was born in Hong Kong.
The Brave Blossoms are comfortably ahead of Italy, but still some way behind the nation occupying top spot.
1. Scotland – 42.1% (16 of 38)
Scotland top our rankings, with 16 of Gregor Townsend's updated 38-man squad born outside the country.
Overseas-born players:
- Ewan Ashman – Canada
- Josh Bayliss – England
- Fergus Burke – New Zealand
- Jack Dempsey – Australia
- Will Hurd – England
- Rory Hutchinson – England
- Tom Jordan – New Zealand
- Ollie Leatherbarrow – England
- Nathan McBeth – South Africa
- D'Arcy Rae – England
- Kyle Rowe – England
- Pierre Schoeman – South Africa
- Kyle Steyn – South Africa
- Sione Tuipulotu – Australia
- Duhan van der Merwe – South Africa
- Ben White – England
Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe ahead of the 2025 Six Nations Championship Round 4 between Scotland and Wales in Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, March 8, 2025 (Photo by Ryan Byrne / Inpho)
Scotland's overseas-born contingent includes players from five different countries.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu was born in Australia, while Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman were both born in South Africa.
Jack Dempsey is another notable example, having previously represented Australia before switching his international allegiance to Scotland.
Townsend has also been forced into late squad changes, with Jamie Ritchie and Elliot Millar Mills ruled out through injury.
Edinburgh trio Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Freddy Douglas and D'Arcy Rae have been called up as replacements.
Despite those changes, Scotland remain comfortably ahead of Japan, with 42.1% of their squad born outside the country.
It is a striking figure, although birthplace alone tells us little about a player's connection to the country they represent.
