The eligibility rules in rugby have caused some controversy over the years, although World Rugby have made moves to change the laws around international selection in recent times.
The three-year residency rule, one Ireland and many other nations have benefitted so much from, was changed to five years not long ago.
One of the more interesting changes comes around allowing players to play for more than one nation during their career. Whereas in the past you would have been permanently tied to a team after one international cap, that is no longer the case.
Players can now switch their eligibility to another country if they have not been capped by their test team in over three years. The rules was brought in to allow those who are no longer in contention for the stronger nations to line out for some of the tier-two teams in the sport.
Former All Blacks scrum half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who has earned 29 caps for New Zealand, caused some controversy this week by stating his intention to take advantage of the law. Born in Australia, the 32-year old La Rochelle players has confirmed that he intends to play for the country of his birth moving forward.
Ian Foster unsure of Tawera Kerr-Barlow switch
This is perhaps an unforeseen consequence of the rules change. While Tawera Kerr-Barlow is doing nothing illegal here, switching between two of the top teams in the world after falling out of favour at one of them isn't exactly the intended spirit of the law.
Speaking ahead of New Zealand's game against Australia, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said that such a move 'doesn't feel right'.
Look, it’s just a consequence of World Rugby’s eligibility laws, isn’t it? It kind of doesn’t feel right to me, but rules are rules, and he’s entitled.
All I know is the beauty that he brought into the All Blacks camp, he’s a quality person and quality rugby player, so there is no judgement on that decision.
But what I remember from him is the influence he had in our environment, which was fantastic. To kind of think of that going somewhere else is a bit funny. But like I said, rules are rules and that’s the way the game is going.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow last appeared for New Zealand in 2017, becoming ineligible for selection after his move to France.
Some will be worried that this move between two tier-one nations could establish a worrying precedent moving forward.
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