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Playing for 'your' country - not as simple as it seems

Roar Rookie
24th August, 2014
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Can the Brumbies charge to a first-up victory at home against the Reds? (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Roar Rookie
24th August, 2014
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When we were children dreaming of playing cricket for our country in the nineties, my friend would say the following.

“If I train really hard, I can play for Australia (where we lived), if I train half the time then I could play for South Africa (where his family is from) and if I don’t train, then I can play for England (his country of birth)”.

While our dreams to represent our country never eventuated, even as children, we could see that the concept of representing your country is not necessarily a single choice, but a multi-faceted decision that delves into a person’s heritage, birth and residency. Indeed, the increased globalisation and professionalisation of sport means that the rules around national representation are murky.

Sporting bodies are trying to clarify their rules but it appears that every in every sport, the rules are different.

Here are a couple of examples in order to help you understand some sporting codes’ eligibility systems – or it may confuse you even more.

Cricket
The ‘English’ cricket team is known for its cosmopolitan make up, with players coming from all over the commonwealth and beyond. Recently, an Antipodean by the name of Sam Robson made his debut for the England with a little help from a UK passport courtesy of his Nottingham-born mother, but not in the way you would think.

The rules of eligibility in cricket allow for a person to represent a country if:
• they are born there;
• they have a passport of that country; or
• they are a resident of that country for four years.

Sam Robson actually qualified for England through the residency rule, as England does not have a ‘national’ passport (United Kingdom). The rule regarding a passport allows people to represent the country of their ancestors, but it can be open to manipulation.

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Any government wishing to poach the best players by fast-tracking their citizenship could easily abuse this rule.

Notable examples: Kevin Pieterson, Darren Pattinson, Sam Robson and Fawad Ahmed.

Rugby union
To be able to play for a country in rugby union under Regulation 8 of the IRB, the country has to be where:
• you were born;
• one parent or grandparent was born; or
• the player has completed three years of residence.

New Zealand constantly rants about Australia abusing this system and poaching players, often forgetting that they do the same thing.

Their latest complaint was regarding Henry Speight. The Fijian-born winger spent a couple of years in New Zealand and then came to Australia and qualified under the residency rule.

Despite living in Australia for four years, he qualifies a little later due to a two-month stint playing rugby in NZ. He qualifies for Australia next month.

Notable examples: Henry Speight, Manu Tuilagi, Sekope Kepu, Sean Maitland, Grayson Hart and Billy Vunipola.

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Rugby league
Internationally, the international rules are exactly the same as rugby union. However, in rugby union, you are unable to change allegiances, but in rugby league your allegiance expires after two years or the end of the World Cup – whichever is sooner. This has allowed many NRL stars to play for another country in the World Cup and then be able to represent one of the big three countries at a later date.

And State of Origin eligibility is another story entirely.

Notable examples: James Tamou, Rangi Chase, Tonie Carroll and Brad Thorn.

Football
Historically, it was possible for players to play for different national teams. The great Alfredo di Stefano played for his country of birth, Argentina, for Colombia and for Spain. The rules have now changed, which means that you can only play competitively for one senior national team.

Initially, a player can play for a country if:
• They were born on the territory of the relevant Association;
• Their biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
• Their grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association; or
• They have lived continuously on the territory of the relevant Association for at least two years.

You are allowed to change your allegiances if you have not played a senior competitive game for your initial country. These qualifications are the same as above except the residency rules have increased to five years to avoid countries abusing the residency rules.

However, you cannot change allegiances to another country if you had no affiliation to them previously.

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This rule means Ivory Coast junior Adama Traore, despite qualifying by residency in Australia, cannot play for the Socceroos. It is the same reason why Spaniard Mikel Arteta cannot play for his country of residence, England.

Notable examples: Diego Costa, Adnan Januzaj, Thiago Motta, Adama Traore and Mikel Arteta.

Nationality in sport is not easy, and it’s clear that each sport has different priorities in regards to their national teams. These above examples are only a sample of the issues, but they demonstrate varying ideas as to what it means to show a connection to a country.

For individuals it can show the passion that a person has for their country of origin, their family or their new home. However, they can also be a means of manipulation by the country to further their sporting ambitions and endeavours.

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