Israel Folau will join Tonga’s squad for their matches next year after World Rugby relaxed eligibility laws on Thursday.
The world governing body approved a major amendment to their eligibility policy which will allow players to switch countries more easily from next January.
Folau, one of the Wallabies’ most outstanding backs who was sacked by Australia over homophobic social media posts, will launch a second international career thanks to his Tongan heritage.
“Israel Folau is ready to jump on board. He’ll come in the team, or the squad, next year,” Kefuu told ABC Radio on Thursday.
“There’s a host of players there and hopefully on the back of those arivving it may turn some players to put on the red and white as well.”
Kefu acknowledged that Folau will bring headlines.
“I’m sure there will be controversy but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” he said.
“That’s always been our goal is to get those players playing for us. We don’t have the luxury of getting a lot of time together.
“Given we have players all over the world coming together for a short period of time it’s very hard to get the team playing the way we want.
“The biggest change we can make in getting wins is improving the class of player that we have and changing this rule does that straight away.”
The move could prove a huge boon for developing rugby nations – particularly the Pacific Island sides Tonga, Samoa and Fiji – in time for the 2023 World Cup in France.
Currently, internationals aren’t eligible to play for a second nation unless they stand down from Test rugby for three years and play sevens for their second country in an Olympic qualifying event.
But under the amended rules, as long as the three-year break is still met, players can switch nations from January 1 if they, or a parent or grandparent, were born in the country they now wish to represent.
In Folau’s case, he hasn’t competed internationally since playing his 73rd and last Test for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham, three years ago to the day.
After January 1, any player meeting the criteria can make an immediate transfer application.
The move could, in theory, be a game-changer for the Pacific Islands with the amendment meaning that, as well as Folau, New Zealand luminaries like Charles Piutau, who has 17 All Blacks caps, George Moala and Vaea Fifita could play for them.
Samoa could be bolstered by former All Blacks too with former fly-half Lima Sopoaga, Steven Luatua, Julian Savea and Denny Solomona all being in the frame for a new international allegiance.
England powerhouses Billy and Mako Vunipola could end up playing for Tonga in 2024, while star centre/wing Manu Tuilagi would be able to play for Samoa down the line.
“We have listened to our membership and players and sought to update the regulation recognising the modern professional rugby environment without compromising the integrity of the international game,”said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.
It’s not been easy to switch international allegiance, with only a handful of players taking advantage of the Olympic loophole since it was introduced before the debut of rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Former Wallabies duo Lopeti Timani and Cooper Vuna became eligible for Tonga in recent years, with the former having made his debut for the ‘Ikale Tahi against England earlier this month after a dozen Tests for Australia.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Agree it shouldn’t be grandparents. Parents I’m fine with. Not grand parents.
Ad-O
Guest
That's a naive take. PI players are throwing away a Super Rugby contract and an RA top up if they don't elect for Oz or NZ. You can't expect them to throw away their family's security for "the honor of wearing the shirt". Its a professional game with risk of catastrophic life changing injury.
Mo
Guest
Thanks mate. Good force boy and a proper size for a TH. Don’t care if he plays for Oz or NZ.
piru
Roar Rookie
There are a couple, actually – my favourite is his weird attempt to hug George North before being picked up and carried like a sack of spuds. Odd thing to happen to a great defender – I’ve never seen it happen to Michael Hooper Also don’t forget the time he grabbed the SA winger by the hair in a textbook tackle and got his bell rung by Etzebeth for his trouble
piru
Roar Rookie
Never saw any evidence that IF being ‘out of position’ caused any tries against the Wallabies. You think positioning is irrelevant, why would you notice it?
Panana split
Roar Rookie
Half those players wouldnt be eligible 2 make the switch by the world cup
James584
Roar Rookie
Never saw any evidence that IF being ‘out of position’ caused any tries against the Wallabies.
James584
Roar Rookie
Direct us to a video of him missing tackles. It doesn’t exist. Nor is there any evidence that ‘he is not a good defender in rugby’. His defence is proven. His try scoring is brilliant. Many rugby players, internationals, would not last 5 minutes in SOO.
Good Game
Guest
Yup. You generally don't miss tackles when you're not in a position to make them.
piru
Roar Rookie
He is a very good defender. He played SOO. He is not a good defender in rugby. That’s patently false Whether he defended well in State of Origin or not is irrelevant. Don’t mistake being able to make tackles as being a good defender. In rugby (and particularly at fullback) it’s as much about positioning as technique and his was terrible. ‘Positioning’, yeah right. You can’t actually show him missing many tackles so you bring in that nebulous red herring. Oh you want to disregard positioning as irrelevant? I can see why, it’s devastating to your nonsense position of ‘Israel Folau is a great defender’ You don’t like him, you have slammed him for years, so you greatly play down his ability and greatly exaggerate his limitations. Why don’t you direct us to a video of his tackles, most test players have a tribute somewhere on YT.
piru
Roar Rookie
delete
score under 50.
Guest
tonga team for world cup . 1 mako vunipola 2. taukeiaho 3. taniela tupou. 4 vaai . 5 . tuipulotu 6 . billy vunipola 7. vaea fifta . 8 whycliff palu. 9 . fakatava 10 richie mounga 11 . charles piutau 12 pita ahki 13 fekitoa 14 george moala 15 folau . samoa have the most ex all blacks so samoa will probably benefit most from this rule change .
under 50 score line
Guest
1. mako vunipola 2. taukeiaho 3 taniela tupou 4.vaai 5. tuipulotu 6 . billy vunipola , 7 vaea fifita .8 whycliff palu .. 9 fakatava. 10 richie mounga 11 charles piutau . 12 george moala . 13 fekitoa . 14 veainu . 15 folau . ....
James584
Roar Rookie
He is a very good defender. He played SOO. No one hides in defence in those games. He defended very well. Go and watch those games. He also defended very well in rugby. ‘Positioning’, yeah right. You can’t actually show him missing many tackles so you bring in that nebulous red herring. You don’t like him, you have slammed him for years, so you greatly play down his ability and greatly exaggerate his limitations.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I dont see it benifiting NZ in any way but it will help the PI nations so all good...
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Please dont doubt that. You are just as much a priority to me as you have ever been Hehe! :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
Hi Dave, A couple of things. Identifying talent starts long before 19 20yo and if they happened to move to Australia. I would move your marker back to 13/14/15yo, what brought the family to Aust and NZ and where they went to school. Your research supports my point. You've just rattled off 7 players in the last 2 decades under that 'came to Australia after school' criteria. Let's be conservative and say NZ has the same in the past 2 decades, that's at least 14 international quality PI players representing the WB/AB's. It may not sound like much but it is to the countries with a tiny population. Imagine if you could rattle off 14 Aussies in the English team just in the last 20yrs? With all due respect, at least with me, please don't reference wiki. If I can edit your source, it's not really a source. By rights the actually source should be linked on the page. Go there if you want attach, it's far more credible.
bungeye
Roar Rookie
You would think we would be world beaters with the amount of PI players in the wallaby squad. It just goes to show, no matter how explosive you are, if you can't catch and are a liability mentally, it matters very little! How many PI players were their in the 2003 wallabies squad again?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And, just for that, you are going to snub me? I am beginning to doubt the priority I have in your life. :silly:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I will call you a dreamer, but you’re not the only one.