Johnny McNicholl is just days away from becoming eligible to play a part in Wales’ new world under Wayne Pivac.
He will follow hard on the heels of fellow New Zealander Willis Halaholo, who completed his own residency qualification last week.
The pair will add to Pivac’s options as he prepares to take over the national coaching reins from Warren Gatland, whose tenure as Wales team boss will end with the Rugby World Cup third and fourth place match against New Zealand on Friday.
McNicholl arrived in Wales to take up a contract with the Scarlets on November 3, 2016, meaning he finishes his three-year residency qualification this Sunday.
Halaholo hitched up in the country for the first time on the weekend of October 22-23 in the same year.
The pair have the potential to offer Pivac something different as he looks to put his stamp on the Wales set-up.
Former Crusader McNicholl is not only box office. He is also a wing with an eye for business, scoring 32 tries in just 65 competitive games for the Scarlets since arriving from New Zealand.
His haul includes a memorable hat-trick in the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final against Leinster, with one of the scores seeing him execute a superlative one-handed finish in the corner.
He recommitted to Welsh rugby by signing a new contract with the Scarlets last March, confirming at the time that the lure of a Test jersey was a factor when he and his family were deciding to stay.
"If I do get that opportunity, I would be very humbled and grateful and take it with both hands,” he said.
Wales, he continued, felt like home after three years at the Scarlets.
"I feel like, I've brought my partner over here, we've adapted the Welsh culture, we've lived here for three years. We've really embraced it,” he added.
"I've got a daughter now. She's Welsh, she was born here, she's going to pre-school here and I feel like if I do play for Wales, I'd be doing her and her home nation proud."
The hot-stepping Halaholo is similarly keen to represent the country where he has set up home, with the centre signing a fresh long-term contract with Cardiff Blues seven months ago.
Like McNicholl, he boasts serious attacking skills . The 2016 Super Rugby winner is renowned for his sidestep but also has a quality passing and offloading game.
He is a man with a fascinating back story, revealing to WalesOnline he almost ruined his career after being dragged into a drink-fuelled gang culture in New Zealand. You can read that brutally honest interview here.
Blues head coach John Mulvihill after the Aucklander signed his second deal for the Arms Park region: "Willis is such an exciting player who has shown what he is capable of with big moments in big matches.
"He qualifies for Wales in the autumn and is looking forward to a massive off-season to take himself to the next level and put himself in the frame for selection."
