Selecting a promising player to "block" him is soon over.

The international federation (World Rugby) on Wednesday approved a relaxation of the eligibility rules for internationals which should benefit the Pacific islands, regularly "looted" by the major nations.

From 2022, an international will be able to "change federation only once, subject to demonstrating a close and credible link with the new federation by means of the right of birth", indicated World Rugby in a press release, after a vote of its advice.

A historic moment, the World Rugby Council approved a change to Regulation 8 which will now allow an international player to change once per federation career, subject to showing a close and credible link with the new country.

pic.twitter.com/pCe56BJz6y

- Dorian Grimaud (@DoGrims) November 24, 2021

The player must meet several criteria: not to have played in an international match during the last three years preceding the application, "to be born in the country of the federation to which he wishes to be transferred" or "to have a parent or a grandparent born in this country ".

Each request will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Rules Commission.

Already rare exceptions

At present, according to the rules of this body which governs the laws of the game, a player could only evolve for one selection in his career. An exception was however possible for the A teams within the framework of the participation in an Olympic event. The center of the All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa (24 caps between 2014 and 2017) was thus engulfed in the breach by participating in an Olympic qualifying tournament with Tonga, his country of birth, in June in Monaco. The second line Paul Willemse represents the XV of France, after having been international under 20 years with South Africa.

Such a change of rule should benefit several modest nations on the chessboard of world rugby, which are suffering from the exodus of their best elements.

Starting with the Pacific Islands, regularly plundered by the great nations.

A boon for Fijians, Tongans and Samoans

New Zealand coach Wayne Pivac says the current system is "a loss for the game".

“There are some fantastic players from the Pacific Islands who play for other nations.

Allowing them to come back [to play for their country of origin] after a period of hiatus could only strengthen the island nations, strengthen world rugby and the interest of World Cup matches, ”he said.

Players also supported this development, Ngani Laumape in the lead.

The center of the Stade Français (15 selections with the All Blacks between 2017 and 2020) had tweeted “open the eligibility rules”.

The three-quarters of Bristol Charles Piutau (17 selections with New Zealand between 2013 and 2015) could thus find the Tongan selection, with which he played in the under-20s.

The third line Nathan Hughes (22 caps with England between 2016 and 2019) could represent him Fiji, where he was born.

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  • Samoa

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