Foreign-Born Players in 2016 Six Nations

Following the popularity of Americas Rugby News’ Foreign-Born Players at Rugby World Cup 2015, the hot topic of debate regarding player eligibility is to be looked at again. In this piece Americas Rugby News takes an in-depth look into the foreign-born players in each Six Nations squad, where they were born and how they are eligible.

All told, the 2016 Six Nations Championship will have a grand total of 21 countries involved in the tournament. The Americas are represented by five players born in three different countries – Argentina, St. Lucia, and the USA. The Six Nations are joined by four other European countries – Albania, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain.

The Celtic nations each have players born in England. In total 16 English players will play for other countries in the tournament. The next highest producers, by birth, are New Zealand and South Africa who have 10 and 9 respectively.

SCOTLAND (14) The Scots have the most players in the group and thus have overtaken Wales who edged them at the World Cup. Their total of 14 could yet grow with scrumhalf Henry Pyrgos expected to join the group later and Ali Price next in line. Both are born in England. Some players have qualified, such as John Hardie who was selected before ever playing a match in the country. The selection of Tennessee’s Tommy Seymour means a player from the USA will play in the Six Nations.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
WP Nel THP South Africa Residency (2015)
Tim Swinson LO England Grandparent
Ben Toolis LO Australia Parent
John Hardie FL New Zealand Grandparent
Blair Cowan FL New Zealand Parent
John Barclay FL Hong Kong Parent
David Denton N8 Zimbabwe Parent
Josh Strauss N8 South Africa Residency (2015)
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne SH Spain Parent
Ruaridh Jackson FH England Parent
Duncan Taylor CE England Parent
Sean Maitland WI New Zealand Grandparent
Tommy Seymour WI USA Parent
Tim Visser WI Netherlands Residency (2012)

WALES (13) The 37-man roster named by Warren Gatland features 13 players born outside of Wales. To suggest they are there only on eligibility grounds, though, would be misleading. Most of the foreign-born players in the squad grew up in Wales, with props Tomas Francis and Aaron Jarvis, second row Jake Ball, wing Alex Cuthbert, and utility Gareth Anscombe the exceptions.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
Tomas Francis THP England Grandparent
Aaron Jarvis THP England Grandparent
Jake Ball LO England Parent
Luke Charteris LO England Residency (1986)
James King FL Australia Residency (1993)
Dan Lydiate FL England Parent
Ross Moriarty FL/N8 England Parent
Taulupe Faletau N8 Tonga Residency (2001)
Gareth Anscombe FH/FB New Zealand Parent
Jonathan Davies CE England Parent
Alex Cuthbert WI England Parent
George North WI England Parent
Hallam Amos WI/FB England Residency (2002)

ITALY (10) Jacques Brunel has taken a high-risk approach in making multiple changes to his roster since the World Cup. Argentine Matías Agüero has retired from international contention, injury has ruled out some like Quintin Geldenhuys, and others are overlooked like Fijian duo Samuela Vunisa and Manoa Vosawai. Often criticized as failing to produce home-grown talent, Italy is fielding fewer players from abroad than Scotland and Wales and the same number of residency qualified players as Ireland. Of the 10 newcomers, Albanian-born Ornel Gega moved to Italy aged nine and began playing rugby at 15. Former South African u20 rep Braam Steyn became eligible in 2015, as did 31-year-old Bloemfontein export Dries van Schalkwyk.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
Ornel Gega HK Albania Residency (2002)
Martín Castrogiovanni THP Argentina Grandparent
Dario Chistolini THP South Africa Parent
George Biagi LO Scotland Parent
Dries van Schalkwyk FL/N8 South Africa Residency (2015)
Sergio Parisse N8 Argentina Parent
Braam Steyn N8 South Africa Residency (2015)
Kelly Haimona FH/CE New Zealand Residency (2014)
Gonzalo García CE Argentina Grandparent
Luke McLean FB Australia Grandparent

IRELAND (9) Ireland’s policy of restricting places at Leinster, Munster, and Ulster for Irish-eligible players has had the knock-on effect of an increase in the number of so-called ‘project’ players who qualify, or will qualify, on residency. CJ Stander is the latest such player, increasing the number in Joe Schmidt’s roster since the World Cup, while French-born Ultan Dillane is set to win his first caps for the country of his mother, where he has resided since the age of seven. Kieran Marmion was born in England, grew up in Wales, and qualifies via his Irish parents.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
Rob Herring HO South Africa Grandparent
Richardt Strauss HO South Africa Residency (2012)
Nathan White THP New Zealand Residency (2014)
Mike McCarthy LO England Parent
Ultan Dillane LO France Parent
CJ Stander FL/N8 South Africa Residency (2015)
Jamie Heaslip N8 Israel Parent
Kieran Marmion SH England Parent
Jared Payne CE New Zealand Residency (2014)

ENGLAND (8) Stuart Lancaster had three foreign born players on his World Cup roster. Two of them remain with the third one of a number of players dropped by new boss Eddie Jones. Having done wonders for Japan, a different challenge sees Jones having a long list of elite players from the 12 premiership teams to choose from. The Americas are represented by Marland Yarde, born in Castries, St. Lucia, who moved to England aged nine. Matt Kvesic and new cap Paul Hill were both born in Germany to English parents and returned to the UK at a young age. Kvesic also has Croatian and Polish heritage. Jack Clifford is another whose parents returned to England when he was young. His father is Kenyan and mother English. The suspension to Chris Ashton for foul play saw him replaced by Semesa Rokodugini.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
Mako Vunipola LHP New Zealand Residency (2008)
Dylan Hartley HK New Zealand Parent
Paul Hill THP Germany Parent
Matt Kvesic FL Germany Parent
Jack Clifford FL/N8 Australia Parent
Billy Vunipola N8 Australia Residency (2008)
Semesa Rokoduguni WG Fiji Residency (2010)
Marland Yarde WG St. Lucia Residency (2004)

FRANCE (4) New supremo Guy Novès has brought with him a change in philosophy and all but a pair of the 10 foreign-born players from the World Cup have been discarded. The newcomer on the roster is uncapped Fijian Virimi Vakatawa, who has gained a considerable following playing sevens for France. Sébastien Vaha’amahina was born in New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific that could well become independent in the relatively near future. He was forced out, through inujury, replaced by Bernard Le Roux on January 25.

PLAYER POS PLACE OF BIRTH ELIGIBILITY
Uini Atonio THP New Zealand Residency (2014)
Bernard Le Roux FL South Africa Residency (2012)
Virimi Vakatawa WG Fiji Residency (2013)
Scott Spedding FB South Africa Residency (2011)

 

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Formally created in June 2015, this website's goal is to increase media exposure of the Tier 2 rugby nations, and create a hub with a focus on the stories of rugby in the Americas - North, Central and South.

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