20 players switch countries for Rugby World Cup as…

20 players switch countries for Rugby World Cup as official squads named

With less than three months to go until this year's Rugby World Cup, the competing nations are ramping up their preparations with coaches tasked with making some big selection calls as they trim down their squads.

Most have already named their initial cohorts with some surprise names among the various ranks, including those who have switched allegiances ahead of this autumn's finals in France.

This is largely down to World Rugby changing their eligibility rules in 2021, with test-capped players now allowed to represent a second nation they are eligible for if they, their parents or their grandparents were born there - but only if they haven't played Test rugby for three years.

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While the rule change is not restricted to Tier Two nations, it will benefit those nations who have lost eligible players to bigger countries over the years, with this particularly relevant to the Pacific Islands.

Tonga, Samoa and Fiji have all strengthened their squads with players who have previously won caps for other nations, adding 15 new faces between them ahead of the autumn.

The Tongans in particular now boast a star-studded lineup, with former Australia internationals Adam Coleman, Lopeti Timani and the controversial 73-cap Israel Folau joining six ex-All Blacks in the Sea Eagles' squad for their July tests.

Samoa, meanwhile, have also recruited a host of former New Zealand stars with Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua and Lima Sopoaga all making the switch, while Christian Leali’ifano, who has 26 caps for Australia, has also made the World Cup training squad seven years after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Fiji also snapped up former All Black Seta Tamanivalu last year as part of their World Cup preparations, but the Pacific Islanders are not the only ones at it.

South Africa, Scotland and Italy have all selected new recruits who previously won caps elsewhere, while Wales coach Warren Gatland named former England tighthead Henry Thomas in his 54-man training squad in May. The 31-year-old won seven caps for England but hasn't played for them since 2014, while his father Nigel hails from Swansea.

As the World Cup nations continue to release their initial squads, here are all the players that are set to line up for a different Test side in France this autumn: