Rugby: All Blacks to play for other countries?

Former All Black Doug Howlett could become eligible for Tonga. Photo / Getty Images

A critical IRB vote this week will pave the way for dozens of former All Blacks to play for other countries at the next World Cup, if it is passed.

In a move that could rock the foundations of the game, plans are in place to change the eligibility laws to allow players to feature for two countries again.

The proposal that has been tabled is to allow players who have been capped by the leading nations to stand down for 12 months and resume test careers with the likes of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

If the vote is passed then the likes of Doug Howlett, Sam Tuitupou and Sione Lauaki could all play for Tonga at the 2011 World Cup; Jerry Collins, Chris Masoe, John Schwalger and Ross Filipo could play for Samoa and Joe Rokocoko, Radeke Samo and Lote Tuqiri could play for Fiji.

The proposal has been put forward as a means to dramatically and quickly boost the quality of some of the emerging test nations. At the last World Cup Tonga were one of the surprise packages. They would be even more of a threat if they were able to pick up the likes of Howlett and Tuitupou. There are also dozens of quality players who have been capped by Six Nations sides who are also eligible for emerging Eastern European countries such as Georgia.

While the change has the potential to deny the All Blacks access to some of their former players who have recently talked about returning home for another crack at test rugby, New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew says the move has his board's full support. "We think it would be a very considerable assistance to the not inconsiderable investment world rugby has made. We think it is a no-brainer," he said.

"If they have legitimate eligibility connections to two countries - one being Tier One and the other being Two - and if they are prepared to declare that they are willing to never play for the Tier One country again, then they will be eligible for the Tier Two country and we think a 12-month stand down would be sufficient.

"There are a number of players who have played test rugby for other countries who have eligibility connections to the Pacific Islands and to also some of the Eastern Europe nations."

The vote will take place on Tuesday at an IRB Council meeting and will need a majority of 75 per cent to be passed. It was on the table five years ago but failed to win the majority it needed.

But there is some confidence that the landscape has changed sufficiently to enable those who voted against it to re-think this time. The world game is struggling for positive coverage and this move has potential to excite and engage the public. It also has potential to begin tackling the perennial complaint that there are too few teams who are operating at the absolute cutting edge of the sport.

While a change in eligibility laws is unlikely to transform the Pacific Island nations into world beaters over night, it would strengthen them sufficiently to be able to challenge nations such as Scotland, Italy and England.