LIST: 5 international stars who could have played for other countries

The 33-year-old has revealed in his newest book that if things were different, he may very well have played for the green of Ireland, rather than his native country. And it’s all down to some undisclosed Irish blood on his father’s side.

DID YOU KNOW? Carter revealed that he declined the offer to switch to National Football League (NFL) as a kicker for New England Patriots after The Rugby World Cup in 2015

 The hulking England forward opened up about his Welsh heritage to BBC Wales. He said: “I’m actually half Welsh, and I’m fully Welsh qualified, so I could have quite happily played for Wales,”

He would have qualified to Play for England through his father, who was born and raised in Kent. Considered one of the world’s best flankers, the 105-cap flanker hit international headlines as he mastered the field alongside revered teammate David Pocock on the Rugby World Cup stage in 2015.

In 1989 he was approached by former All Black Colin Meads to try out for the King Country side in New Zealand. In 1990 he was even selected for the New Zealand under-21 side which went on a tour of Australia playing a side that included another of the all-time great lock forwards, John Eales. He eventually returned to England and thankfully represented them instead of the All Blacks.

DID YOU KNOW? Johnson comes from a sporting family. His great-grandfather was a wrestler

New research, undertaken by Scotland's tourism agency and Glasgow's Mitchell Library, found had links to Ayrshire, in southwestern Scotland, through his great-great-great grandfather, Alexander McCaw.

DID YOU KNOW? His other sporting passion is flying and he was made an honorary Squadron Leader in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2010