Wayne Rooney has told Jack Grealish to play for the country of his birth after the England captain revealed he rejected an approach from the Republic of Ireland as a 16-year-old.
Grealish, like Rooney before him, qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents but has not committed his international future to Martin O’Neill’s side despite representing the Republic from Under-15 to Under-21 level. Roy Hodgson, the England manager, confirmed the Football Association registered their interest in the Solihull-born player with Grealish’s father last month after being alerted by the player’s agent.
“I’ve never thought about playing for Ireland,” said Rooney, who will win his 104th England cap in Sunday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland. “I was born in England, I’m English. When I was at Everton [in 2001] Lee Carsley asked me about it on behalf of Mick McCarthy but it never crossed my mind. I have Irish grandparents, so if they wanted to play for Ireland I’m sure they could have, but it was never something I thought about.
“I am English through and through and I have no issue with trying to beat Ireland. I am playing for England and I want to help England win.”
Grealish rejected England to play for Ireland as a 15-year-old and has also played Gaelic football but Rooney believes a player’s birthplace should dictate their international team. Asked what the Aston Villa midfielder should do, the England captain replied: “It’s down to him really. I’m a firm believer that the country you are born in is who you should play for but the rules are the rules. It’s down to him to make the decision and it is better to make it sooner rather than later.”
Hodgson echoed Rooney’s view that Grealish, who declined O’Neill’s offer of a place in Ireland’s squad for the England friendly and Saturday’s vital European Championship qualifier against Scotland, needs to decide soon. The England manager also claimed the grandparent qualification rule is a “tenuous link” to an international future.
“I believe there have been discussions,” said Hodgson. “I think Jack Grealish’s agent initiated some discussions with the FA. I haven’t spoken to him. He’s still a young player with a very bright future either for England or Ireland and he should make up his mind. I’m sure that he and his family and representatives will make the decision which suits him and we won’t put pressure on him, other than to say we’d be happy to have him in our ranks.
“Wayne has said that, despite Irish grandparentage, he’s English. It’s a tenuous link in some ways, but that is what the rules state. He’ll choose the country which suits him best and he thinks is the right one for him. I guess he will be influenced by his family. He played his first game for England at Under-15 but left to play for Ireland instead.”
