50 players will swap countries for the 2021 Six Nations

byRugby Rucker

The soaring number of foreign-born players in the 2021 Six Nations is a ‘joke’, ‘dangerous’ and making the competition a ‘second tier’ of international competition, according to greats of the game.

Extensive analysis by RUCK shows almost 25 per cent of the players picked this year were born outside the country they will represent in the Championship.

This includes 11 South Africans and seven New Zealanders.

Although England have massively reduced there numbers from eight players to two, other nations have seen their number continue to climb.

Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales all see their numbers to grow in comparison to 2020 with France's number staying the same.

6. England - 1 player

Billy Vunipola (Sydney, Australia)

3. France - 3 players

Uini Atonio (Timaru, New Zealand)
Bernard Le Roux (Western Cape, South Africa)
Paul Willemse (Pretoria, South Africa)

IRELAND - 8 players

Rob Herring (Cape Town, South Africa)
Ultan Dillane (Paris, France)
Quinn Roux (Pretoria, South Africa)
CJ Stander (George, South Africa)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Great Barrier Island, New Zealand)
Billy Burns (Bath, England)
Bundee Aki (Auckland, New Zealand)
James Lowe (Nelson, New Zealand)

ITALY - 10 players

Marco Manfredi (Freiburg, Germany)
Johan Meyer (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
Sebastien Negri (Marondera, Zimbabwe)
David Sisi (Rinteln, Germany)
Cristian Stoian (Chisinau, Moldova)
Cherif Traorè (Kindia, Guinea)
Callum Braley (Bristol, England)
Ignacio Brex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Monty Ioane (Melbourne, Australia)
Stephen Varney (Wales)

WALES – 12 players

WillGriff John (Plymouth, England)
Tomas Francis, (York, England)
Will Rowlands (London, England)
Jake Ball (Ascot, England)
Dan Lydiate (Salford, England)
Josh Macleod (Montecarlo, Monaco)
Taulupe Faletau (Tofoa, Tonga)
Nick Tompkins (Sidcup, England)
Jonathan Davies (Solihull, England)
Johnny Williams (Western-Super-Mare, England)
Hallam Amos (Stockport, England)
George North (Kings Lynn, England)

1. Scotland - 15 players

Despite having one less foreign-born player than 2020 (16), Gregor Townsend’s roster still contains more than any other competitor in the Six Nations. Of note is that that over half of the Foreign-Born players qualify via a Grandparent. This qualification path may not survive should World Rugby adopt additional tightening of eligibility laws.