The dual qualified players a Wales v England tug of
THE subject of dual qualified players has been a top topic of debate for the last few months.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s decision to represent England at senior level over the country of his birth did not go down too well in Welsh rugby circles.
It has made the Welsh Rugby Union focus its efforts into ensuring as many dual-qualified players represent Wales over England as possible.
If you cast your eye across both the England and Wales sides at age grade level there are countless players who qualify for both.
We’ve singled out a few players who could trigger a tug of war between both countries in the not too distant future.
Reuben Logan
Logan is the son of former Scotland wing, Kenny, and the son of well-respected broadcaster Gabby. Big things are expected of the 18-year-old who is a member of the Northampton Saints academy.
The back-rower, who started his rugby journey in the backs, made his senior debut for the Saints in a 55-5 victory over Cambridge RFC in the Premiership Rugby Cup earlier on in the season.
Having previously been a part of the Scotland pathway Logan switched allegiances to England, representing them at U20s level.
Logan is also Welsh qualified courtesy of his grandfather Terry Yorath, the former Wales football manager, who hails from Cardiff.
Jonny Green
The Wales U20s lock Haywards Heath in West Sussex, qualifies for
Wales courtesy of his mother’s side of the family who all hail from Llanelli. Green has been one of the better player for Wales U20s over the past couple of seasons with his raw physicality and carrying a huge asset.
The 20-year-old plays for English Premiership giants Harlequins who rate the abrasive second-row highly.
Ieuan Davies
The Bath scrum-half enjoyed an excellent Six Nations campaign for Wales U20s and is seen as a future senior international by those in the upper echelons of Welsh rugby. But Davies, who attends the prestigious Millfield School, is also English qualified courtesy of his mother and represented England at U18s level.
The South Gower RFC product is contracted to Bath and it’s not out of the realms of possibility there could be a fight for his services at senior international level in the not too distant future.
Kepu Tuipulotu
The England U18s hooker has recently joined the Bath academy after his former club London Irish went to the wall. Tuipulotu is the son of former Neath centre, Sione, and the brother of Wales Women’s prop Sisilia while his cousin Carwyn plays for the Scarlets.
The 18-year-old hails from Pontypool but is in sixth form in the prestigious Harrow School before starting university in Bath this year. Tuipulotu is on record as saying he wants to play for England at senior level.
However, we understand there are doubts whether he currently qualifies for England at senior level which is dependent on if his registered address while at Harrow was in Wales or not.
If this is the case it is possible he won’t be eligible for the senior England national side for at least five years, while there even suggestions the Rugby Football Union would need to apply for special dispensation if he is to represent them at U20s level.
Expect Wales to make a serious play for the talented hooker if he lives up to the hype at senior level.
Kane James
The Exeter Chiefs back-rower hails from Haverfordwest and is a product of St Peter’s RFC in Cardiff. James received a scholarship at Sedbergh and was picked up by the Newcastle Falcons academy before moving to Exeter.
James has been capped by Wales U18s but represented England at U20s level. It is unclear what country he would opt to play for at senior international level if selected.
“Kane is English-qualified because I was born in Bristol,” his father Chris told The Rugby Paper. “And that was only because my dad had worked for the MoD and he moved there with his job. He (Kane) is on a two-year development programme with the England U20s. He is fully embedded in their squad, loving life at Sandy Park and the club’s culture.
“There’s no doubt that it works well for him. He really has made great strides in a short time. I’m Welsh through and through, from a Welsh-speaking family.
“He’s my son and has aspirations to play international rugby. Yes, I’d like to see him in a Welsh shirt but if England is better for him, so be it.”
Ioan Jones
The Gloucester full-back has represented England U18s and
U20s but qualifies for Wales through his parents who were both born in Merthyr Tydfil. Jones was one of the standout players in the recent U20s Six Nations and has the potential to really make his mark on the senior game over the next few seasons.
Luke Evans
The Exeter Chiefs second-row represented Wales at U18s level before switching allegiances to England at the same age grade. Evans is a real physical specimen who can carry and get over the gainline, the sort of second-row which is in short supply in Wales.
Evans is extremely highly rated in both English and Welsh rugby circles. If as expected he makes his mark at senior level then it’s likely there will be a serious tug of war for his services between England and Wales.