World Rugby have quietly tweaked a key rule — and it could seriously shake up Test squads, especially in Ireland and Scotland.
In 2024, the residency qualification window has been stretched from three years to five, meaning overseas recruits now face a much longer wait to pull on a national jersey. For some, that could stall — or even end — their international ambitions before they begin.
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For Ireland, the effect is clear. Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, and Mack Hansen all moved to Ireland as adults to play professionally.
Under the old three-year rule, most were quickly eligible, but the new five-year rule would have postponed — or even blocked — their international careers. That’s half of the foreign-born players in recent squads who wouldn’t have qualified under the extended residency period.
Scotland could also feel the change. Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe qualified through residency after moving from South Africa, meaning the new rule would have delayed their availability. Sione Tuipulotu, by contrast, qualifies via ancestry — his grandmother was born in Scotland — so the residency extension doesn’t affect him.
The implications are significant. Teams that have relied on fast-tracked foreign talent will have to rethink their selection strategies, while nations with strong domestic pathways might gain a relative advantage.
For Ireland and Scotland, it could mean fewer instant upgrades from abroad and a greater emphasis on nurturing homegrown talent.
World Rugby may have slipped the rule change in quietly, but for national squads, it could reshape the game for years to come.
HOME NATIONS RANKED BY FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS – 2026 Six Nations:
ENGLAND (FIVE PLAYERS)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso — born in Cardiff, Wales
Bevan Rodd — born in Dunoon, Scotland
Tom Roebuck — born in Inverness, Scotland
Sam Underhill — born in Dayton, Ohio, USA
Marcus Smith — born in Manila, Philippines
5 of the 36 players (about 14%) were born outside England, representing birthplaces in Wales, Scotland, the USA, and the Philippines.
