Whether you like it or not, the current World Cup eligibility rules can result in players representing more than one country, and this gives rise to not only a lot of debate but also some interesting situations.
For example, how much better off would Italy be in the current competition if James Tedesco – their centre, fullback and 5/8 from the two previous World Cups – was still representing the Azzurri rather than captaining the Kangaroos? How much would New Zealand like to have Jason Taumalolo at the back of their scrum? We’ll never know.
Here’s an interesting team of players who have represented more than one country at the World Cup, prior to the current competition.
1. Jarryd Hayne – Hayne has scored 14 tries in as many World Cup games, the first four for Fiji back in 2008, before switching to Australia for 5 games in 2013 and a World Cup Trophy. He returned to the Fiji team in 2017, notching up another 5 appearances.
2. Manu Vatuvei – The big winger scored 8 tries in 9 games for NZ, including a quadruple in a game against England in 2008, before playing his last World Cup game for Tonga against Scotland in 2017.
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3. Kevin Iro – Iro played 14 World Cup games in all, the first 11 for NZ, before switching allegiances to the Cook Islands in 2000 at the age of 32.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
4. Michael Jennings – Jennings has scored an impressive 9 tries in 8 World Cup games. He had 3 for Tonga in 2008, a solitary game for Australia in 2013, and finishing with 4 more for Tonga in 2017.
5. Sam Panapa – Panapa played all of his top level career in England and turned out on the wing for NZ in three games in 1989. His last two World Cup appearances were for Samoa in 1995.
6. Nigel Vagana – Vagana was a winger for NZ in his first five World Cup outings in 2000, but found himself playing 5/8 for Samoa 8 years later in his final two appearances.
7. Robbie Farah – The presence of Cameron Smith kept Farah on the bench in his 3 games for Australia in 2013, but he became Lebanon’s first choice half back after turning out for them for 4 games in 2017.
8. Petero Civoniceva – Easily on of the best front rowers to play the game, Civoniceva had 4 games for Australia in 2008, before representing Fiji in 2013, playing 5 games for the Bati.
9. Mike McIlorum – McIlorum just can’t seem to make up his mind. 3 games for Ireland back in 2008, followed by two games for England in 2013, then back to the Irish team for 3 games in 2017. 2022 sees him back in an English jersey.
10. Josh Papali’i – The big unit played 4 games for Australia in 2013, including their victory over NZ in the final, and then turned out for Samoa 4 years later notching up another 4 games.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
11. Sika Manu – Manu’s first three World Cup appearances came in 2008 when he was part of NZ’s victorious team, but his next seven came for Tonga, and he captained them throughout their 2017 campaign.
12. Chris Joynt – Joynt was a pretty formidable forward in his day, and he played 3 games for England in their 1995 campaign before switching allegiances to Ireland for 4 games in 2000.
13. Andrew Bentley – Bentley had one game for France in 2013 before returning to his Scottish heritage in 2017 for two more World Cup appearances.
14. Duanne Mann – 8 games as hooker for NZ before switching to Tonga at the age of 30 for 5 games, two as hooker and captain, and the last 3 either as lock or half back.
15. Andrew Fifita – The big bopper was undefeated in his six games for the victorious Australian team in 2013, and then led the charge to represent his country of heritage by joining Tonga in 2017, where he won 4 of the 5 games he appeared in.
16. David Fa’alogo – The rugged forward was played 4 games for NZ in 2008 and was a key member of the Cup winning team, and switched to Samoa 5 years later notching up another 4 World Cup appearances.
17. Brent Kite – Kite’s World Cup career kicked off in 2000 when he had two games for Tonga, and by 2008 he was in the Australian team playing 5 matches. He returned to the Tongan team as captain in 2013 for 3 more games.
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All the team list information for Round 8.
