Indeed. There is the thought that Isaia Toeava will play for the Samoan 7s team in order to be eligible for Manu Samoa at the 15s World Cup. 35 caps for the ABs Isaia Toeava. Samoa could also go after: Rudi Wulf, Tim Nanai-Williams, Casey Laulala, Digby Ioane, Anthony Tuitavake, Chris Masoe, Ross Filipo, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, John Schwalger and probably many, many more players capped at age group or full All Black level. I think there's a 50 cap limit or something so Mils Muliaina couldn't be targeted.
Well I assume it was brought in precisely for this reason (bring in no-longer capable ABs players to be 7s-eligible for another country which they have reasonable ties to, which gives some name recognition for the Olympic 7s tourney) but why couldn't they just have restricted it to 7s? Although I note the BBC report (perhaps deliberately) does not mention whether this rule also applies to Test rugby. edit: Oh fmd. Case-by-case decisions. Yeah that'll go down like a lead balloon. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/irb-ready-to-act-on-games-loophole-30573648.html
I'm sorry - but that's bullshit and makes international rugby a farce. George Smith changing his eligibility after 100+ caps for the Wobblies? That is so insanely stupid that why should I be surprised that the IRB have come up with it. I could understand it - perhaps - for players capped at under age level who aren't gaining opportunities (Tim Nanai-Williams, for example) but why bother with any kind of eligibility criteria if you're going to let guys like Smith, Toeava, Muliaina or So'oialo change teams. It makes me fucking sick.
Oh, and Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu could of course change to play for Fiji. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...x-All-Blacks-could-face-old-team-at-World-Cup
They already can switch allegiances, tbf. Matt Stevens and Brad Barritt both played age group internationals for SA and ditto Riki Flutey for NZ. Only test or "A" games properly marry a player to a country. Or did, until now.
To be pedantic, each country nominates a 2nd representative team. Wales' has been the U20s in recent times.
Pedantry raises us above the heathen and closer to baby Jeebus, tbh. Did not know that (obviously). Have yer Leekists done away with their "A" side?
They have done for the past 10ish years I think, read somewhere that it was coming back next year though