Following the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, we take a look at 13 players who could switch international allegiances ahead of the tournament.<\/b><\/p>\n
In 2021, World Rugby approved an amendment to the sport\u2019s regulations governing national team representation.<\/p>\n
This allowed an international player to transfer once from one union to another, subject to demonstrating a close and credible link to that union via birthright.<\/p>\n
From 1 January 2022, to transfer from one union to another under the revised Regulation 8 (eligibility), a player will need to achieve the following criteria:<\/p>\n
\u2013 The player must stand-down from international rugby for 36 months.
\u2013 The player must either be born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that country.
\u2013 Under the revised Regulation 8 criteria, a player may only change unions once, and each case will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee to preserve integrity.<\/p>\n
Several players have since taken advantage of the regulation amendment, including the likes of Israel Folau, Charles Piutau, Jean Kleyn, George Moala, Pita-Gus Sowakula and many more.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the 2027 World Cup<\/a> in Australia, several other players are expected to do the same, while others will qualify under residency grounds.<\/p>\n We take a look at 13 players who could switch international allegiances before the tournament.<\/p>\n Dan Kelly \u2013 England to Ireland<\/p>\n A former Ireland<\/a> U20s star, Rochdale-born centre Dan Kelly started his professional career at Leicester Tigers and went on to debut for England against Canada less than a year after his debut for the Prem club.<\/p>\n Kelly joined Munster ahead of the 2025\/26 season and was immediately eligible for selection for Ireland, having already adhered to the three-year stand-down period and qualifies through his grandparents.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old has already represented the Ireland XV team and could make the switch from England to Ireland permanent if selected by Andy Farrell.<\/p>\n Nepo Laulala \u2013 New Zealand to Samoa<\/p>\n A 53-Test cap All Black<\/a>, Nepo Laulala last played for New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, joining French club Toulouse after the tournament.<\/p>\n Laulala\u2019s career was under threat during his time in France due to injuries, but the tighthead prop has returned to action with Prem club Gloucester.<\/p>\n Born in Moto\u2019otua, Samoa, the former Crusaders, Blues and Chiefs front-rower could make the switch to the Pacific Island nation before the 2027 tournament. He will become eligible to do so in November 2026.<\/p>\n World Rugby haven\u2019t \u2018learnt their lesson\u2019 after 2023 World Cup abomination as All Blacks great fuels conspiracy theory<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Manu Tuilagi \u2013 England to Samoa<\/p>\n Ahead of the 2024\/25 season, Manu Tuilagi packed his bags for the French Basque Country, joining Bayonne, with whom he recently re-signed with through to 2028.<\/p>\n The powerhouse centre made 60 appearances for England and last represented his adoptive country during the 2024 Six Nations. This means that he will only be eligible for the switch in the year of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.<\/p>\n Samoa\u2019s qualification for the tournament immediately triggered the debate whether Tuilagi would make the switch or not, and the 34-year-old certainly left the door open.<\/p>\n \u201cIt depends if I\u2019m still be able to compete at that level,\u201d the 34-year-old told Rugby Union Weekly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the World Cup \u2013 if you go, you go to win and to give your best, not just so you can say I\u2019ll play another World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be 36 then, so I don\u2019t know. We\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n If he were to represent Manu Samoa, he would follow in the footsteps of his five older brothers \u2013 Andy, Alesana, Henry, Sanele Vavae and Freddie.<\/p>\n Hoskins Sotutu \u2013 New Zealand to England or Fiji<\/p>\n Hoskins Sotutu has been repeatedly snubbed by All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson since the former Crusaders boss took over from Ian Foster.<\/p>\n He earned the last of his six Test caps against England back in 2022, which means that from November this year, he was eligible to switch international allegiance once receiving approval from World Rugby.<\/p>\n Sotutu has been lined up by several Prem Rugby clubs, and recent reports suggest that he will join Newcastle Red Bulls next season, which will open the door for Steve Borthwick to select him for England, who he qualifies through his mother Adelita.<\/p>\n If not England, the number eight could follow in his father Waisake Sotutu\u2019s footsteps by representing Fiji.<\/p>\n Hoskins Sotutu to England? Ranking 9 number eight options as All Blacks snub gears up for Test allegiance switch<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Akira Ioane \u2013 New Zealand to Samoa<\/p>\n Older brother of Rieko Ioane, Akira, like Sotutu, last played for New Zealand in 2022.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old fell out of favour with Foster before the 2023 Rugby World Cup and was overlooked by Robertson in his debut season as head coach. Ioane subsequently signed for Japanese club the Kintetsu Liners and could also follow his father, Eddie Ioane, in representing Samoa.<\/p>\n Folau Fakatava \u2013 New Zealand to Tonga<\/p>\n Folau Fakatava last played for the All Blacks back in 2022, coming off the bench in the two losing Tests against Ireland. The Highlanders star has since represented the All Blacks XV, most recently this November, but that team is not considered a \u2018capture\u2019 side for New Zealand.<\/p>\n That means that the Tongan-born scrum-half could turn out for the Pacific Island nation, who have been drawn alongside England, Wales and Zimbabwe in their 2027 World Cup pool.<\/p>\n All Blacks XV coach Jamie Joseph has backed the 25-year-old to work his way back into the selection frame for Robertson\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is an X-factor player and brings a lot of spark to our attack structure. He\u2019s just getting better with experience, and at only 25, he has much more to offer both the Highlanders and New Zealand rugby,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n However, if Fakatava wishes to do so, he could make the switch from 2026, having already completed the three-year stand-down period.<\/p>\n Ngani Laumape \u2013 New Zealand to Tonga<\/p>\n Powerhouse centre Ngani Laumape rued the length of the stand-down period ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup as he narrowly missed out on the opportunity to switch to Tonga.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old earned the last of his 17 All Blacks caps in November 2020, meaning that he has been able to make the switch since 2024.<\/p>\n However, he has yet to do so, despite stating previously that he was eager to play for the Pacific Islanders.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll put my hand up for Tonga,\u201d he said back in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be a great opportunity to represent my parents\u2019 country. I\u2019m a proud Tongan, so if I was picked, I would definitely put my foot forwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Laumape will join Moana Pasifika ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season and could finally make the switch to Tonga.<\/p>\n Shannon Frizell \u2013 New Zealand to Tonga<\/p>\n He could be joined in doing so by former All Blacks back-rower Shannon Frizell, who signed with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n Having last played for the All Blacks at the World Cup, Frizell can switch his allegiance to Tonga, his country of birth. His adoptive brother, Tyson Frizell, has also played rugby league for multiple countries, representing Australia, Wales and Tonga.<\/p>\n While New Zealand Rugby have swooped to lure Richie Mo\u2019unga back from Brave Lupus, they have yet to do so for Frizell, who could switch to Tonga from October next year.<\/p>\n Benhard Janse van Rensburg \u2013 South Africa to England<\/p>\n While Bristol Bears centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg has never represented the Springboks, he is currently captured by South Africa, after representing the SA U20s team back in 2016.<\/p>\n Between 2015 and 2017, the U20s was a capture team for South Africa, meaning that players who played for the team would only be able to change their international allegiance through a birthright transfer.<\/p>\n However, according to a report by Telegraph Sport, England have successfully appealed Janse van Rensburg\u2019s tie to South Africa and the Springboks with World Rugby on the grounds of \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d. The centre played just 20 minutes off the bench for the youth level team in a bronze final match of the U20s World Championship.<\/p>\n By the start of next season, the 28-year-old will have completed his five-year residency, which, paired with World Rugby\u2019s approval, will allow him to represent England.<\/p>\n