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.
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.
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.
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.
Daniel
Roar Rookie
You are correct, ‘Terry’ that I have been selective in my examples. It is somewhere between whoever I can think of at the time and the fact that I am writing for an Australian audience. I could talk about Moore’s Saudi Arabian origins or Pocock’s Zimbabwean heritage, but each of those countries’ rugby pedigree means that it wasn’t really an issue as to which country they will play for. I could have mentioned Clyde Rathbone, Dan Vickerman or Craig Gower but I actually forgot about them. I could have also mentioned Steven Shingler’s eligibility row or Tommaso Allen’s Scottish credentials but not many in Australia would know or care about them. MrT - "Bringing up the others just highlights that people move around the world." Thank you, that is one of the points of this article.
Daniel
Roar Rookie
I was thinking about Morgan when I wrote the article but forgot to include him!
Daniel
Roar Rookie
You are correct that my opinion differs to the IRB. As Henry Speight has been in Australia since late 2010, it would seem that he has been living in Australia for nearly for nearly four years. He did play in the ITM Cup in 2011 to fulfil a playing contract with Waikato and left for two months of the year, something that many people including myself have done for work. The IRB disagrees with me in this and to be honest I think they have far more experience in this area than a pundit like you or me. Their position is not for the individual but for the entire game. They have to balance the line between ensuring that a player can play for a country of their choice and that no country abuses the system.
Daniel
Roar Rookie
Thanks atlas for the article link and the updated perspective of the English cricket team's eligibility. It is very interesting that a national team has stronger restrictions than the international body. In regards to the “rugby forum”, I intended to have this article be in the "other sports" forum, as I wanted it to be a discussion on eligibility in multiple sports for a greater perspective of the situation.
Tiges
Guest
We should tatoo each child with the name of country that they were born in. We could also extend this to Super teams, NRC teams or even local clubs. This would prevent us going around in circles on this blog, arguing who "poaches" more than the other. Problem solved.
Pat Malone
Guest
How many players 20+ have they poached?
Jake
Guest
NZ don't poach players when there 20 players like Kaino & Muliaina came to NZ under the age of 5 u Aussies poach players when there 20+ having spent basically no time living in Australia so stop talking crap as usual but that's what Aussies are great at
MrT
Guest
Highly selective? Kepu was Australian-born? Moore was 5 when his family came to Australia? Cooper, Genia, Pocock were all early teens-ish when they arrived? Kepu and Speight are the interesting ones - Kepu may have been born here but he and Speight had all their rugby development in NZ. Bringing up the others just highlights that people move around the world. I have no issue with those guys playing for Australia since their most important rugby development happened here.
Pat Malone
Guest
I thought they got divorced?
Bakkies
Guest
Pietersen and Robson have an English parent. Eoin Morgan is a better example.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
I have no objection to players turning out for whatever nation they feel most close to, even if it not be the one of their birth; whether that be a parent's country, or one they've lived in most of their life, or even if they have a justifiable reason to not play for a particular nation (for political reasons perhaps). I can also understand why a player might feel the need to switch nationalities if their own country doesn't play their chosen sport at a high level (Tim Visser, the Dutch-born Scottish rugby player springs to mind), or if they have a better chance of a call-up for a another nation (like Chris Birchall, the footballer who plays for Port Vale, and Trinidad and Tobago by dint of his mother's birth). But I certainly don't like seeing mercenary players, often those who are unable to get into their own nations' teams, take another country's money, then abandon any prospects of playing for their homeland so as to qualify for another country. These players, especially in football, are usually paid a handsome wage by their clubs, so why do they feel the need to earn that bit more by playing for another country too?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Kepu was born in Sydney, how was qualification difficult for him?
Wally Palmer
Roar Pro
I honestly believe it should come down to where you were conceived. That would stop the problem and boost no's for Queensland as it is a statistical fact that 75% of all aussies were conceived during schoolies on the Gold Coast.
atlas
Guest
^ see my earlier post - I think England cricket have now got it about right in terms of residency requirements: 4 years if arrive younger than 18, seven years of over 18. Allows for the ones who are with parents and have no say in the matter, as well as the pro mercenaries - doubt they'd wait seven years for a possible rugby contract. Get rid of parents birthplace rule? No, that wouldn't be fair as so many people have children while working abroad.
gurudoright
Guest
It should be only if you are either born in a country or have lived there prior to senior rugby (say 21 years old ). The residency rule for over 18s should be 5 years. Get rid of the Grandparents rule or even the parents birthplace rule.
atlas
Guest
where are the facts? "Henry Speight. The Fijian-born winger spent a couple of years in New Zealand" It was longer than 'a couple' - completed his high school education at Hamilton Boys High School, played club rugby in hamilton, played four seasons of rugby for Waikato 2008-2011 while doing business management studies at Waikato University. He had already met residency requirements (for NZ) when he chose to play for the Brumbies after no offer from any NZ Super franchise for 2011. Daniel your interpretation of 'lived in Australia for 4 years' obviously differs from that of the IRB, who proved he had not. **** Queensland's Sam Cordingley in Fiji this month (August 2014) for their club seminfinals and finals, on a recruitment drive for QRU. Somewhat cheapens the value of NRC as a development tier of rugby, doesn't it.
Terry
Guest
The author if this 'piece' who uses the name 'daniel' has been highly selective with his examples. Half the wallaby team in recent years is foreign born including most of their best players such as Pocock, Cooper, Genia, Moore. Strangely daniel only chooses to cite wallabies of Pacific Islander decent who were born overseas. Why is this I wonder?
atlas
Guest
This is a rugby forum - but since comparisons are being made - a note on current eligibility for the England cricket team which appear to be stated incorrectly in this article May 1, 2012 The ECB has toughened its qualification rules for England cricketers by extending the minimum residential qualification period from four to seven years with immediate effect. The new stipulation, which has been voted in by the ECB board at Lord's, will apply to players who arrive in England and Wales after their 18th birthday. The tighter regulations aim to put more emphasis on England players being developed through the England system, although overseas players settling in England before their 18th birthday will still only need to complete a residential qualification of four years. The purpose of this two-tier policy is to reduce allegiances of convenience as overseas players win opportunities in county cricket and, as a result, decide to seek England qualification. http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/563328.html
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Perhaps this could all be solved by basing it on their tax residency ... Monaco: sporting power of the world!
Plainsman
Guest
Tony Parker was born in Belgium but was raised in France with an American father and Dutch mother. He plays basketball for France and the Spurs and is married to Eva Longoria who is the daughter of Mexican parents. Work that one out!