13 stars who could switch Test allegiances before World Cup 2027: Two Springboks-tied backs, six ex-All Blacks and Manu Tuilagi
Shannon Frizell, Manu Tuilagi and Rhyno Smith.
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.
In 2021, World Rugby approved an amendment to the sport’s regulations governing national team representation.
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.
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:
– The player must stand-down from international rugby for 36 months.
– 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.
– 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.
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.
Ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia, several other players are expected to do the same, while others will qualify under residency grounds.
We take a look at 13 players who could switch international allegiances before the tournament.
Dan Kelly – England to Ireland
A former Ireland 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.
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.
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.
Nepo Laulala – New Zealand to Samoa
A 53-Test cap All Black, Nepo Laulala last played for New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, joining French club Toulouse after the tournament.
Laulala’s career was under threat during his time in France due to injuries, but the tighthead prop has returned to action with Prem club Gloucester.
Born in Moto’otua, 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.
Manu Tuilagi – England to Samoa
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.
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.
Samoa’s 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.
“It depends if I’m still be able to compete at that level,” the 34-year-old told Rugby Union Weekly.
“It’s the World Cup – if you go, you go to win and to give your best, not just so you can say I’ll play another World Cup.
“I’ll be 36 then, so I don’t know. We’ll see.”
If he were to represent Manu Samoa, he would follow in the footsteps of his five older brothers – Andy, Alesana, Henry, Sanele Vavae and Freddie.
Hoskins Sotutu – New Zealand to England or Fiji
Hoskins Sotutu has been repeatedly snubbed by All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson since the former Crusaders boss took over from Ian Foster.
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.
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.
If not England, the number eight could follow in his father Waisake Sotutu’s footsteps by representing Fiji.
Akira Ioane – New Zealand to Samoa
Older brother of Rieko Ioane, Akira, like Sotutu, last played for New Zealand in 2022.
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.
Folau Fakatava – New Zealand to Tonga
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 ‘capture’ side for New Zealand.
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.
All Blacks XV coach Jamie Joseph has backed the 25-year-old to work his way back into the selection frame for Robertson’s squad.
“He is an X-factor player and brings a lot of spark to our attack structure. He’s just getting better with experience, and at only 25, he has much more to offer both the Highlanders and New Zealand rugby,” he said.
However, if Fakatava wishes to do so, he could make the switch from 2026, having already completed the three-year stand-down period.
Ngani Laumape – New Zealand to Tonga
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.
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.
However, he has yet to do so, despite stating previously that he was eager to play for the Pacific Islanders.
“I’ll put my hand up for Tonga,” he said back in 2023.
“It would be a great opportunity to represent my parents’ country. I’m a proud Tongan, so if I was picked, I would definitely put my foot forwards.”
Laumape will join Moana Pasifika ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season and could finally make the switch to Tonga.
Shannon Frizell – New Zealand to Tonga
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.
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.
While New Zealand Rugby have swooped to lure Richie Mo’unga back from Brave Lupus, they have yet to do so for Frizell, who could switch to Tonga from October next year.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg – South Africa to England
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.
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.
However, according to a report by Telegraph Sport, England have successfully appealed Janse van Rensburg’s tie to South Africa and the Springboks with World Rugby on the grounds of “exceptional circumstances”. The centre played just 20 minutes off the bench for the youth level team in a bronze final match of the U20s World Championship.
By the start of next season, the 28-year-old will have completed his five-year residency, which, paired with World Rugby’s approval, will allow him to represent England.
Tyrone Green – South Africa to England
Similarly, former South African U20s star Tyrone Green could also make the switch to England. Unlike Janse van Rensburg, Green played for the youth team when it was not a capture team, meaning that he could turn out for England next year.
2025 is the fifth year that Green has been at Harlequins after making his debut for the club back in November 2020.
“That’s a bridge I’d have to cross when I get there,” he told Planet Rugby in August last year.
“But at the moment I’m putting all international things behind me and try to get more silverware at Harlequins.”
Rhyno Smith – South Africa to Italy
Benetton back Rhyno Smith will hope that he gets a similar treatment to Janse van Rensburg when he bids to switch his international allegiance to Italy.
The former Sharks and Cheetahs back joined the Italian URC team in 2021 and recently signed a contract extension through to 2028.
In an interview with Afrikaans publication Rapport, Smith confirmed that the Italian Rugby Federation has reached out to him to gauge his interest in making the switch.
However, he will need special compensation from World Rugby to do so, as he is currently tied to South Africa and the Springboks after representing the SA 7s team in two tournaments back in 2018.
“The Italian union hasn’t invited me to training camps or anything yet, but we’ve already talked about my eligibility and how we can make it work,” Smith told Rapport.
“I know I can write a letter to World Rugby and ask if I can qualify, and there are people who have already done that. It helps that I will have been in the country for five years next year. The fact that it has been seven years since I played for the Blitzboks also helps, as does the fact I have played so little.”
Lalakai Foketi – Australia to New Zealand
New Zealand-born, Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi has vowed never to play for Australia again after making the switch to the Chiefs ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
In an interview with Code Sport, he revealed that he is launching legal action against Rugby Australia, claiming unlawful termination of his contract and unpaid wages.
He is claiming $38,000 was supposed to be paid to him for the month of November as well as potential long-service leave pay. However, Rugby Australia deemed that he breached his contract by conducting promotional work with the Chiefs after signing a deal with the New Zealand Super Rugby side.
Foketi last played for the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup and could make the switch to the All Blacks next year.
Dave Ribbans – England to South Africa
In 2019, South African-born second-rower Kleyn represented Ireland at the World Cup before switching and transferring back to his country of birth and helping the Springboks win the tournament four years later in France.
Could David Ribbans follow a similar path? The former Western Province lock qualified for England on ancestry grounds but last played for the Borthwick’s charges at the 2023 tournament.
Ribbans currently plies his trade with French Top 14 club Toulon, which has made him unavailable for an England call-up, but South Africa don’t have such restraints around selecting overseas-based players.
He effectively became eligible to switch back to South Africa this November, but the idea of hopping between countries is not one that sits well with the second-rower.
“Look, I’m aware of reports last week about international futures and one thing I’ll stress is I don’t like the concept of changing countries for convenience. I played for England, and for sure, I’d love to do that again – so that is a desire, for sure,” he told Planet Rugby in April this year after re-signing with Toulon through to 2028.
