New Zealand continues to exert a noticeable influence on northern hemisphere rugby, with a number of Kiwi-born players now featuring prominently across Six Nations squads.
While the tournament remains rooted in European tradition, modern eligibility laws — particularly residency pathways — have allowed several players developed in New Zealand to represent other nations at Test level.
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Scotland’s Kiwi Contingent
Scotland have two New Zealand-born players in their squad. Both are halfbacks, highlighting the nation’s ongoing recruitment of talent from Super Rugby and the New Zealand system:
- Fergus Burke
- Tom Jordan
Wales Add a New Arrival
Wales include one New Zealand-born player, recruited directly from the professional game in New Zealand before qualifying for international rugby:
- Blair Murray
Ireland’s Established Trio
Ireland remain the strongest example of New Zealand’s impact in the Six Nations. Their squad contains three well-established Kiwi-born internationals, all of whom arrived as professional players and qualified through residency:
- Jamison Gibson-Park
- Bundee Aki
- James Lowe
France’s Kiwi Forward
France now have one New Zealand-born player in their squad following the forced retirement of veteran prop Uini Atonio. Atonio, who earned 68 caps for Les Bleus and enjoyed a distinguished club career with La Rochelle, was forced to retire in early 2026 after suffering a serious heart attack.
Despite stabilising, doctors confirmed he cannot safely return to professional rugby. His retirement underscores the risks elite athletes face, particularly in the physically demanding front row.
- Emmanuel Meafou
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Who has the most foreign-born players? 2026 Six Nations
So, which nation has the most foreign-born players in 2026?
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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