The shocking extent of how much the global game shrunk after the pandemic and Bill Beaumont's World Rugby leadership

These following figures are sourced from RugbyArchive.net and whilst preciseness of them might be slightly off here or there the broad overall pattern is clear: the global game has shrunk to a shocking degree over the past four year (2020-2023) cycle.

Of the 112 full member Unions listed in the World Rankings and looking at the number of World Ranking relevant test matches (so not counting friendlies vs non-test opponents) ......

• Only 25 (22%) of the 112 teams played more than 15 tests over the full 4 year cycle (the five non-RWC nations were Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, & Canada) and only 34 (30%) played more than 10.

• 44 of the 112 teams (39%) played 2 or fewer tests over the entire four year cycle. 24 of those teams (21%) were totally inactive and did not play a single test.

• In this calendar year of 2023: 43 (38%) of 112 teams played 0 tests. 16 of the top 52 (or 50% of top 32 ranked teams not at RWC) played between 0-2 tests this year.

• Asia has 21 teams in the World Rankings and of them 19 played no more than 4 tests over the entire 4 year cycle. Only one (Japan) reached double figures. 6 of the top 13 ranked Asian teams remained entirely inactive over the four years.

South Korea are world ranked 30 but have
played just 4 tests in the last 4 years.

• North America has 11 teams in the World Rankings and only USA and Canada played more than 2 tests over the 4 years. The other 9 teams played a combined total of 6 tests between them.

Mexico rose from 75th in the World Rankings in 2013 to the
40s within 5 years but now have played just 2 test in 4 years

• South America has 9 teams in the World Rankings. 3 reached the RWC. Among the other 6, Brazil, Colombia, & Paraguay played just 14 tests between them in 2022 and 2023, whilst Peru, Venezuela, & Costa Rica all have been inactive since 2018.

Brazil played in front of a crowd of a historic 34,500 crowd in 2018 vs
Maori All Blacks but their rugby prospects collapsed after the pandemic

• Africa has 21 teams in the World Rankings. 13 of those played 0 tests in 2023. This includes Zimbabwe and Algeria who placed 3rd and 4th at last year's African RWC qualifiers, whilst rugby mad Madagascar played just two tests over four years and none since 2021. Rugby in North Africa and West Africa now appears all but dead.

Zimbabwe are world ranked 31 but in 2023 for the
first time since independence in the early 1980s did
not play a single test in a non-Covid calendar year

• Oceania has 6 smaller teams in the rankings outside the 5 who compete at RWCs and between them they played 6 tests over the entire 4 year cycle. The highest ranked Oceanian nation outside the RWC is the Cook Islands whose only game of the entire 4 year cycle was a RWC qualifier vs Tonga.

Poster for Tonga vs Cook Islands RWC 2023 qualifier
which was the Cooks only test over an entire four year cycle

• Of the 112 nations in the World Rankings as of this year 48 have been active at their most recent regional age grade competitions (an active junior program is basically a litmus test for whether a nation has any remotely serious hope of developing). In the period spanning 2014-2019 33 different Unions played their last age grade games and not rejoined competition since.

Bill Beaumont and Alan Gilpin's WR
leadership: "for the few, not the many"

Obviously this can't all be put down to World Rugby as the pandemic was a large factor here wiping out most of 2020 and in some cases 2021 and creating difficulties all round. However they should not get totally off the hook for the way the global sport has been allowed to deteriorate so badly.

The level of bullshit in World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont's media statements is frequently off the charts. In 2020 in announcing a Covid relief fund he stated:

"Global sport is facing a crisis never seen before and at this most challenging time we are taking unprecedented action as a sport united to support global rugby, its unions, competitions and players through the enormous challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet in reality if he was being more honest he would have said "we have taking unprecedented action united to support Tier 1 rugby, its unions, competitions and players".

The support was only for the few, not the many, as those outside the World Cup participants in particular got basically abandoned. 

Now you can make the case perhaps that restarting competitions for microstates like the Cook Islands was correctly not a priority (however harsh that may sound). However in other cases World Rugby has allowed what was promising progress in the countries with more significant populations like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico to get burnt to the ground. Or the leading non-RWC teams in Asia like South Korea or Africa like Zimbabwe still left in terrible states of inactivity and lack of competition. These are all sides we would hope to be challengers to qualify for a 24 team RWC but progress has been made virtually impossible.

Also some of this, notably the haemorrhaging of the sport's international youth competitions, with now far fewer nations competing at age grade level started even before the pandemic (no side is ever progressing without youth teams unless they have a massive pool of imports).

The current level of inactivity among sides ranked 24 or below and the dire state of rugby in the entire massive continents of Africa and Asia behind their top team is making a mockery of World Rugby leaders supposed care and stewardship of the "global game". It is not good enough, and the blazers must be called out on it for it to improve.

Players from 'Tier 2' nations playing in Europe (2023/2024)

Here is a list of all the players from outside Tier 1 nations playing at a fully professional level in Western Europe (in the French Top 14 or Pro D2, English Premiership, or the Pro14). Those contracted to a team in a top tier league (Top 14, Premiership, Pro14) are in bold text.

The list is based on players who have a) been raised and gone through most of their development outside a Tier 1 nation at least to roughly age 16 or alternatively b) been called up to a national squad outside a Tier 1 nation at some level whether it be age grade, a selection team, or senior team either at 15 or 7s.

Players in Espoirs or Academy squads who have yet to make their senior first team professional debut are listed separately for easier readability. Also listed separately are players who were predominantly raised outside a Tier 1 nation (such as Alivereti Raka, Vaea Fifita, Eli Snyman etc) but have since gone on to win caps at some level for another nation.

We have attempted to note which country each player mostly grew up and were raised in. Whilst for the majority of players this is obvious (Aj MacGinty grew up in Ireland, Tim Nanai-Williams in New Zealand for example), in others there could either be a mixture of countries, or in a few cases could be simply hard to find out exactly, so there is the possibility of error.

Finally also noted is which players are officially cap tied through 15s (green), 7s (yellow), or a designated second team (purple). Cap ties that have expired after 3 years are noted in red.

If there is an error or omission simply leave a comment and it will be corrected.

Africa

 Algeria (7)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Issam Hamel	France	HK	18/06/97	Brive	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Yassin Boutemanni	France	TH	12/07/90	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Johan Aliouat	France	LK	22/01/93	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Mehdi Slamani	France	LK	19/12/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Saïd Hireche	France	FL	27/05/85	Brive	Pro D2	France
Yassine Jarmouni	France	N8	15/03/95	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Nadir Megdoud	France	WG	26/03/97	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Adam Moulahya

France

HK

Brive

Pro D2

France

Int'l

Comment: Algeria has mostly the same set of internationals in Top 14 or Pro D2 as last season, even if a couple of players Issam Hamel and Nadir Megdoud have changed clubs.

 Ivory Coast (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Alexandre Pilati	France	WG	24/01/96	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: With Evrard Oulai moving to Albi and dropping down a division to Nationale, Ivory Coast no longer has any homegrown players in Top 14 or Pro D2, but do still have one international with Alexandre Pilati getting promoted with Dax.

 Kenya

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Josh Weru	England	LK	03/10/03	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: After being released by Northampton due to playing international rugby for Kenya making him non-English qualified, fortunately Josh Weru found an Espoirs contract at Dax and has moved young enough that he can qualify as JIFF after three seasons.

 Madagascar

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Luca Gaboriau	Madagascar	WG	20/04/04	Stade Français	Top 14	France

Comment: Gaboriau moved this season to Stade Français Espoirs after three years at La Rochelle. He has featured in 7s events, but not started regularly at Espoirs level, so chance of him becoming first Madagascan to play senior pro rugby at this point seem unlikely.

 

 Morocco (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Yassine Maamry	France	LK	08/07/93	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Karim Qadiri	France	WG	16/02/96	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: Morocco now has just two internationals in Pro D2 after Mohmed Loukia dropped down a division after 67 games in five seasons at Provence. No new names are likely to enter this list with Morocco not having played a test since 2018.

 Namibia (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Torsten van Jaarsveld	South Africa	HK	30/06/87	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Patrick Schickerling	Namibia	TH	16/10/98	Exeter	Premiership	England
Tjiuee Uanivi	Namibia	LK	31/12/90	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (2)

Herman Coetzee	Namibia	TH	08/04/04	Racing 92	Top 14	France
Riaan Grové	Namibia	LK	04/04/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France

Comment: Namibia now is down to just two internationals playing in Pro D2, whilst their only homegrown player in an elite league doesn't want to play for them. They did have a new prop from their U20 side win an Espoirs contract at Racing 92 this summer though.

 Senegal (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Abdelkarim Fofana	France	N8	16/02/96	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: After Massy's relegation with Fernandez Correa, the only Senegalese international left in Pro D2 is Abdelkarim Fofana in his third season at Rouen.

 Tunisia (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Bilel Taieb	France	FL	27/01/93	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: As has been the case for years Taieb is the only Tunisian in Pro D2, and as Tunisia has not played a test since 2018 there is no prospect of any new names entering this list.

 Zimbabwe (7)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Lovejoy Chawatama	Zimbabwe	TH	26/08/92	Harlequins	Premiership	England
Michael Kumbirai	South Africa	TH	09/05/96	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Cleopas Kundiona	Zimbabwe	TH	15/12/98	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Farai Mudariki	South Africa	TH	13/02/95	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Darrien Landsberg	South Africa	LK	26/07/98	Lions	URC	South Africa
Jason Fraser	South Africa	N8	15/04/91	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
TJ Maguranyanga	Zimbabwe	WG	22/12/02	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France

Homegrown players capped by other countries (1)

Eli Snyman

Zimbabwe

LK

25/01/96

Benetton

URC

Italy

U20

Yet to play first team rugby (3)

Stanley Muranganwa	Zimbabwe	TH		Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Shingirai Manyarara	Zimbabwe	N8	24/02/04	Racing 92	Top 14	France
Tadiwa Chikutiro	Zimbabwe	CT	01/02/05	Aurillac	Pro D2	France

Comment: The notable new addition to this list is the star prospect Zimbabwe U20 captain Manyarara who won an Espoirs contract at Racing 92. Bulawayo lock Mike Williams departed to the Japanese third division after 10 seasons in the Premiership in England.

Americas

 Canada (5)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Matt Tierney	Canada	TH	04/07/96	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Matt Beukeboom	Canada	LK	03/04/97	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tyler Duguid	Canada	LK	17/10/00	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Evan Olmstead	Australia	LK	21/02/91	Agen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tyler Ardron	Canada	N8	16/06/91	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l

Comment: Canada has no new additions and is down to just five players in pro rugby in Europe after Will Percillier and Taylor Paris both retired. None of these pros feature much with the national team any more, and Duguid strangely still remains uncapped.

 Chile (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Iñaki Ayarza	Chile	CT	07/09/99	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (3)

Bruno Sáez	Chile	LK	27/10/04	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Lucas Berti	Chile	SH	12/12/03	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Juan Noriega	Chile	CT	12/01/03	Angoulême	Pro D2	France

Comment: 2m tall lock Sáez, who made Chile's wider RWC training squad at age just 18, has joined Ayarza and Noriega at Angoulême. Lucas Berti has converted from centre to scrum half at Montpellier Espoirs, but as of now does not want to ever play for Los Condores. 

 Colombia (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Andrés Zafra	Colombia	LK	26/03/96	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: Zafra lost his place in the regular starting team at Brive and has now moved to Provence in Pro D2 after 85 games over the past five seasons in Top 14. No sign of any other Colombians following his path to France with Tucanes progress hit badly by the pandemic.

 Uruguay (4)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Germán Kessler	Uruguay	HK	01/07/94	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Manuel Leindekar	Uruguay	LK	23/04/97	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Santiago Arata	Uruguay	SH	02/09/96	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Andrés Vilaseca	Uruguay	CT	08/05/91	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Arturo Ten Hoever

France

N8

15/01/04

Rouen

Pro D2

France

Comment: No new entries to this list which is one fewer than last year after Nicolás Freitas left Vannes. Kessler moving from Provence back to Angoulême, and U20 back row Ten Hoever from Montpellier Espoirs to Rouen both changed clubs in the off season.

 USA (7)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
David Ainuu	USA	LH	20/11/99	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l
Kapeli Pifeleti	England	HK	01/09/99	Saracens	Premiership	England	Int'l
Mike Sosene-Feagai	New Zealand	HK	17/04/93	Agen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Roman Salanoa	USA	TH	28/10/97	Munster	URC	Ireland
Nafi Maafu	USA	LK	18/06/98	Biarritz	Pro D2	France
Oscar Lennon	Wales	SH	15/05/00	Bristol	Premiership	England
Aj MacGinty	Ireland	FH	26/02/90	Bristol	Premiership	England	Int'l

Homegrown players capped by other countries (1)

Titi Lamositele

USA

TH

11/02/95

Montpellier

Top 14

France

Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (3)

Mikaea Wynyard	USA	LK	13/07/03	La Rochelle	Top 14	France
Makeen Alikhan	England	FL	10/10/01	Harlequins	Premiership	England
Waisea Bainibure	USA	WG		Angoulême	Pro D2	France

Comment: USA is down from 10 to 4 active internationals left playing pro in Europe with Joe Taufete'e and Ruben de Haas both departing, whilst Lamositele switched to Samoa. Only new entry is Waisea Bainibure from California who joined Angoulême Espoirs.

Asia

 Japan (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Tevita Tatafu	Tonga	N8	02/01/96	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France	Int'l

Comment: Tatafu becomes just the sixth Japanese international to play Top 14 after Yoshida, Ohata, Goromaru, Hino, and Matsushima. After criticism over his weight and missing RWC 2023 he will hope to relaunch his career and fulfil his big potential. 

Europe

 Belgium (5)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Charlesty Berguet	Belgium	LH	13/01/00	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Gillian Benoy	Belgium	FL	08/05/95	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Jean-Maurice Decubber	France	FL	10/09/96	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
William Van Bost	Belgium	FL	01/08/98	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Siméon Soenen	France	FB	03/01/03	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Homegrown players capped by other countries (1)

Thibaud Flament

Belgium

LK

29/04/97

Toulouse

Top 14

France

Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (5)

Maurice Fromont	Belgium	LK		Vannes	Pro D2	France
Christoph Brys	Belgium	FL	12/12/02	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Théo Adaba	Belgium	CT	13/02/03	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Florian Remue	Belgium	CT	07/03/03	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l
Matias Remue	Belgium	FB	07/03/03	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l

Comment: All the same names as last year. Only change to note is Decubber has upgraded club to leave relegated Massy and join Berguet at Top 14 promotion hopefuls Vannes.

 Denmark

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Carl Vangsgaard	Denmark	LK	12/04/01	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: In his third season in France, Vangsgaard is at a make or break stage of his career as he attempts to reach senior level and become the first ever Dane to play pro rugby.

 Georgia (62)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Nika Abuladze	Georgia	LH	20/08/95	Exeter	Premiership	England	Int'l
Sergo Abramishvili	Georgia	LH	20/11/03	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Giorgi Akhaladze	Georgia	LH	13/04/99	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Guram Gogichashvili	Georgia	LH	04/09/98	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Luka Goginava	Georgia	LH	04/10/96	Grenoble	Pro D2	France
Vasil Kakovin	Georgia	LH	01/12/89	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Lekso Kaulashvili	Georgia	LH	27/08/92	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France	Int'l
Giorgi Mamaishvili	Georgia	LH	26/02/03	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tornike Mataradze	Georgia	LH	18/10/96	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Irakli Mchedlidze	Georgia	LH	01/03/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Mamuka Mstoiani	Georgia	LH	05/12/01	Agen	Pro D2	France
Giorgi Nutsubidze	Georgia	LH	11/11/98	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Omar Odishvili	Georgia	LH	07/02/97	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Giorgi Tetrashvili	Georgia	LH	31/08/93	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Badri Alkhazashvili	Georgia	HK	31/07/95	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Vakhtang Jincharadze	Georgia	HK	08/11/99	Perpignan	Top 14	France
Vano Karkadze	Georgia	HK	25/06/00	Montpellier	Top 14	France	Int'l
Basa Khonelidze	Georgia	HK	19/09/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Luka Nioradze	Georgia	HK	06/04/99	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Vakh Abdaladze	Ireland	LH	06/02/96	Brive	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Irakli Aptsiauri	Georgia	TH	23/02/03	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Luka Azariashvili	Georgia	TH	30/11/99	Rouen	Pro D2	France
Soso Bekoshvili	Georgia	TH	03/11/93	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Mirian Burduli	Georgia	TH	06/01/91	Montauban	Pro D2	France
Levan Chilachava	Georgia	TH	17/08/91	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Giorgi Dzmanashvili	Georgia	TH	16/06/02	Clermont	Top 14	France
Beqa Gigashvili	Georgia	TH	17/02/92	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Luka Japaridze	Georgia	TH	06/10/98	Montpellier	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ilia Kaikatsishvili	Georgia	TH	19/02/93	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Giorgi Kartvelishvili	Georgia	TH	10/12/91	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Gia Kharaishvili	Georgia	TH	13/02/99	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Aleksandre Kuntelia	Georgia	TH	26/06/02	La Rochelle	Top 14	France	Int'l
Lasha Macharashvili	Georgia	TH	13/11/98	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Davit Mchedlidze	Georgia	TH	10/08/04	Toulon	Top 14	France
Giorgi Melikidze	Georgia	TH	24/05/96	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Irakli Mirtskhulava	Georgia	TH	22/12/88	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	Int'l
Guram Papidze	Georgia	TH	16/06/97	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Lasha Pkhakdze	Georgia	TH	07/12/03	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Lasha Tabidze	Georgia	TH	04/07/97	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Luka Tchelidze	Georgia	TH	01/08/00	Béziers	Pro D2	France
Badri Tsikhistavi	Georgia	TH	24/07/03	Bayonne	Top 14	France
Khvicha Tsopurashvili	France	TH	02/02/00	Rouen	Pro D2	France
Lado Chachanidze	Georgia	LK	14/05/00	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Lasha Jaiani	Georgia	LK	21/04/98	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Giorgi Javakhia	Georgia	LK	24/09/96	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Kote Mikautadze	Georgia	LK	01/07/91	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Aleksandre Burduli	Georgia	FL	12/02/02	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Beqa Saginadze	Georgia	FL	29/10/98	Lyon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Beka Shvangiradze	Georgia	FL	12/06/02	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Irakli Tskhadadze	Georgia	FL	01/08/96	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Giorgi Tsutskiridze	France	FL	26/11/96	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Otia Giorgadze	Georgia	N8	02/03/96	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Beka Gorgadze	Georgia	N8	08/02/96	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ioane Iashagashvili	Georgia	N8	23/04/00	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France
Tornike Jalagonia	Georgia	N8	12/12/98	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Mikheil Alania	Georgia	SH	19/11/00	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Gela Aprasidze	Georgia	SH	14/01/98	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Vasil Lobzhanidze	Georgia	SH	14/10/96	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Tedo Abzhandadze	Georgia	FH	13/06/99	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Georges Shvelidze	France	CT	26/10/03	Brive	Pro D2	France
Dachi Papunashvili	Georgia	WG	20/10/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Davit Niniashvili	Georgia	FB	14/07/02	Lyon	Top 14	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (36)

Nika Gogoladze	Georgia	LH		Colomiers	Pro D2	France
Onise Ioseliani	Georgia	LH		Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Luka Kotorashvili	Georgia	LH	20/06/04	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Luka Ungiadze	Georgia	LH		Nevers	Pro D2	France
Merab Matcharashvili	Georgia	HK	18/03/02	Perpignan	Top 14	France
Nika Sutidze	Georgia	HK	01/09/03	La Rochelle	Top 14	France
Irakli Usubiani	Georgia	HK	22/02/05	Clermont	Top 14	France
Beka Beridze	Georgia	TH		Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Nika Beroshvili	Georgia	TH		Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Levan Ezieshvili	Georgia	TH		Clermont	Top 14	France
Davit Gvelesiani	Georgia	TH	24/01/02	Provence	Pro D2	France
Davit Mchedlishvili	Georgia	TH		Grenoble	Pro D2	France
Nodar Shengelia	Georgia	TH	11/08/02	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Giga Tutisani	Georgia	TH	03/02/04	Clermont	Top 14	France
Davit Arveladze	Georgia	LK	15/11/02	Oyonnax	Pro D2	France
Guga Ganiashvili	Georgia	LK	30/01/03	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Levan Kepuladze	Georgia	LK	13/02/05	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France
Otar Kintsurashvili	Georgia	LK	06/07/03	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Gigi Kurkhuli	Georgia	LK	02/04/03	Provence	Pro D2	France
Davit Lagvilava	Georgia	LK		Grenoble	Pro D2	France
Kakha Shekiladze	Georgia	LK		Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Tornike Baikhoidze	Georgia	FL		Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Luka Kikvadze	Georgia	FL	23/10/04	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Luka Saginadze	Georgia	FL		Lyon	Top 14	France
Nikoloz Sakvarelidze	France	FL	15/08/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Lasha Tsikhistavi	Georgia	FL	24/07/03	Bayonne	Top 14	France
Rati Zazadze	Georgia	FL	27/06/03	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Nika Chkhortolia	Georgia	N8		Clermont	Top 14	France
Giorgi Gergedava	Georgia	N8	23/03/04	Clermont	Top 14	France
Nika Lomidze	Georgia	N8	22/01/04	Bayonne	Top 14	France
Luka Suluashvili	Georgia	N8	23/10/04	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Davit Khuroshvili	Georgia	SH	02/11/03	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Mathis Modebadze	France	SH	24/06/03	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Petre Khutsishvili	Georgia	FH	10/01/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Nicolas Ragoevi	France	CT	19/12/03	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Luka Khorbaladze	Georgia	WG	10/03/04	Lyon	Top 14	France

Comment: After sustained junior success Georgians are winning French Espoirs contracts in record numbers. Now 96 Georgians in total at Top 14 or Pro D2 clubs, and of them 88 are JIFF or on course to be if they stay three years, with 51 of them being U22 players.

 Germany (6)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Julius Nostadt	Germany	LH	12/10/92	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Eric Marks	Germany	LK	09/12/96	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Oskar Rixen	Germany	LK	09/12/02	Brive	Pro D2	France
Tim Menzel	Germany	SH	01/01/92	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Chris Hilsenbeck	Germany	FH	10/01/92	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Maxime Oltmann	France	WG	28/12/95	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (4)

Johannes Polomsky	Germany	LH		Stade Français	Top 14	France
Karl Kasper	Germany	LK		Stade Français	Top 14	France
Émile Blondin	France	FL		Grenoble	Pro D2	France
Edward Jumatate	Germany	FB		Stade Français	Top 14	France

Comment: Germany has two more players in Pro D2 this season as Menzel and Oltmann both got promoted back up a level from Nationale. All the German pros in France have remained inactive at international level in recent years.

 Hungary

Yet to play first team rugby (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Kade Zsombor	Hungary	LK	28/06/04	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Kade Zalán	Hungary	CT	09/03/06	Rouen	Pro D2	France

Comment: Hungary has a pair of brothers at Rouen Espoirs hoping to make it as pros. Bence Róth at Bourg-en-Bresse is the only Hungarian to have done so in the past.

 Moldova (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Dmitri Arhip	Moldova	TH	12/11/88	Dragons	URC	Wales	Int'l
Cristian Ojovan	Moldova	TH	04/01/97	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l

Homegrown players capped by other countries (1)

Gheorghe Gajion

Moldova

TH

13/11/92

Mont-de-Marsan

Pro D2

France

Int'l

Comment: With Vadim Cobilas retiring and Dmitri Arhip injured and clubless, Ojovan is the only Moldovan left in an elite league. Their Union never recovered from their crash several years ago and seems unlikely any more join him soon.

 Netherlands (9)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Teun Karst	Netherlands	LK	12/12/04	Brive	Pro D2	France
Renger van Eerten	Netherlands	LK	02/08/99	Brive	Pro D2	France
Tim de Jong	Netherlands	FL	03/03/02	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Hugo Huurman	Netherlands	FL	21/05/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Boris Hadinegoro	Netherlands	SH	08/03/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Willie du Plessis	South Africa	FH	05/06/90	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Juun Pieters	Netherlands	CT	09/05/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Bart Wierenga	Netherlands	WG	26/08/99	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Peter Lydon	Ireland	FB	19/10/92	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (8)

Floris Versteeg	France	LH		Nevers	Pro D2	France
Thymo Peters	Netherlands	TH	11/02/03	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Skip Jongejan	Netherlands	LK	11/01/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Walter Kloezeman	Netherlands	LK	20/04/03	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Jack Slob	Netherlands	FL		Clermont	Top 14	France
Niek Doornenbal	Netherlands	SH	16/12/05	Toulouse	Top 14	France
Ilan Vaasen	Netherlands	CT	25/04/05	Toulouse	Top 14	France
Jules Swier	Netherlands	WG	24/02/04	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France

Comment: Despite steady improvement at youth levels there are no new Dutch Espoirs this year. However they are starting to have success graduating to senior level with Huurman, Pieters, Hadinegoro, and van Eerten all getting increased game time in Pro D2.

 Poland

Yet to play first team rugby (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Adam Zapędowski	Poland	LK		Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France

Comment: Zapędowski, a hugely built lock known as "byka" (bull) who won a call up to the senior Poland training squad age just 17, has now won a 3 year Espoirs contract at Bordeaux as he hopes to become second homegrown Pole in Top 14 after Grzegorz Kacała.

 Portugal (19)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Franciso Fernandes	France	LH	06/09/85	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Lucas Da Silva	France	HK	19/12/97	Brive	Pro D2	France
Anthony Alvès	France	TH	23/06/89	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Alex Dos Santos	France	TH	14/08/01	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Diogo Ferreira	Portugal	TH	17/10/96	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Cody Thomas	South Africa	TH	01/03/96	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
José Madeira	Portugal	LK	19/03/01	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Nicolas Martins	France	FL	18/01/99	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Diego Pinheiro Ruiz	France	FL	01/09/03	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Hugo Camacho	France	SH	27/05/04	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Samuel Marques	France	SH	08/12/88	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Hugo Aubry	France	FH	28/01/03	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Joris Moura	France	FH	07/05/00	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Pedro Bettencourt	Portugal	CT	18/11/94	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	Int'l
Simão Bento	Portugal	WG	21/06/01	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Rodrigo Marta	Portugal	WG	18/11/99	Colomiers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Vincent Pinto	France	WG	10/04/99	Colomiers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Pierre Sayerse	France	WG	05/06/95	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Raffaele Storti	Portugal	WG	19/02/00	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (8)

Lucas Fonseca	France	LH		Brive	Pro D2	France
Martim Souto	Portugal	TH	14/04/05	Montauban	Pro D2	France
Boaventura Almeida	Portugal	LK	18/04/01	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Aurélien Domingues	France	LK		Brive	Pro D2	France
Diego Ferreira	France	LK		Castres	Top 14	France
Clément Ribeiro	France	FL	22/03/02	Rouen	Pro D2	France
Martin Bento	France	WG		Brive	Pro D2	France
Evan Monteiro	France	FB		Racing 92	Top 14	France

Comment: Portugal now has 12 capped internationals in Pro D2 with Ferreira, Moura, and Marta all rising from playing Nationale last season. Following Oyonnax's promotion Bettencourt is their only player playing Top 14 with Mike Tadjer retiring.

 Romania (6)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Ștefan Buruiană	France	HK	03/03/03	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Thomas Crețu	France	TH	05/03/02	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Gheorghe Gajion	Moldova	TH	13/11/92	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Adrian Moțoc	Romania	LK	11/07/96	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Taylor Gontineac	France	CT	16/07/00	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Atila Septar	France	CT	02/06/96	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (3)

Lukas Mitu	France	HK	26/03/04	Castres	Top 14	France
Adrian Mitu	France	FL	12/05/04	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Toni Maftei	France	WG	09/05/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	7s

Comment: After Alexandru Țăruș left Rouen, Moțoc is now the only homegrown Romanian left in Pro D2. No new homegrown name has been added to this list in years, with half the players at Top 14 or Pro D2 clubs now sons of former Oaks who settled in France as pros.

 Russia (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Georgy Balakarev	Russia	HK	04/04/02	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Kirill Gotovtsev	Russia	TH	17/07/87	Gloucester	Premiership	England	Int'l
Andrei Ostrikov	Russia	LK	02/07/87	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (3)

Ivan Beskov	Russia	TH	05/05/03	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Alexey Konnov	Russia	LK	18/06/03	Castres	Top 14	France
Dmitry Dromov	Russia	N8	18/06/03	Castres	Top 14	France

Comment: Only change to this list from last season is no Valery Morozov who was a casualty of English clubs going bust. All four Espoirs remain and soon to become JIFF, but with Russia banned from internationals unlikely any new names added to this list for years.

 Spain (19)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Toti Benz-Salomon	England	LH	17/03/01	Bristol	Premiership	England
Ximun Bessonart	France	LH	15/02/97	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Jono Benz-Salomon	England	TH	17/03/01	Bristol	Premiership	England
Joel Merkler	Spain	TH	25/10/01	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l
Jon Zabala	Spain	TH	26/11/96	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Manex Ariceta	Spain	LK	20/03/04	Bayonne	Top 14	France
Gautier Gibouin	France	FL	24/03/89	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Fred Quercy	France	FL	06/07/91	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Asier Usarraga	Spain	FL	31/12/94	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Brice Ferrer	France	N8	12/04/94	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Ekain Imaz	Spain	N8	07/12/02	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Kerman Aurrekoetxea	Spain	SH	04/05/00	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Guillaume Rouet	France	SH	13/08/88	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Rudy Derrieux	France	CT	06/02/93	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Fabien Perrin	France	CT	16/08/88	Colomiers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Martín Alonso	Spain	WG	02/12/99	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Samu Ezeala	Spain	WG	11/12/99	Pau	Top 14	France
Charly Malié	France	FB	05/11/91	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Gauthier Minguillon	France	FB	03/03/94	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Homegrown players capped by other countries (1)

Lucas Paulos

Spain

LK

09/01/98

Bayonne

Top 14

France

Int'l

Yet to play first team rugby (24)

Rafael Cayuela	France	LH		Bayonne	Top 14	France
Baptiste Gualda	France	LH		Colomiers	Pro D2	France
Álvaro García	Spain	HK	22/08/03	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Pau Massoni	Spain	HK		Brive	Pro D2	France
Guido Reyes	Spain	TH	18/07/05	Pau	Top 14	France
Matéo Tornel	France	TH	11/02/04	Toulon	Top 14	France
Maxim Ermakov	Spain	LK	03/10/03	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Ignacio Piñeiro	Spain	LK	04/01/03	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	Int'l
Joan Ribera	Spain	LK		Toulouse	Top 14	France
Víctor Ofojetu	Spain	FL		Clermont	Top 14	France
Jokin Zolezzi	France	FL	06/07/04	Biarritz	Pro D2	France
Oriol Marsinyac	Spain	N8		Toulouse	Top 14	France
Carlos de la Fuente	Spain	FH		Bayonne	Top 14	France
Beau Peart	New Zealand	FH	16/12/03	Montauban	Pro D2	France
Lucien Richardis	France	FH	28/03/05	Toulouse	Top 14	France
Julien Burguillos	France	CT	08/09/04	Montpellier	Top 14	France
Dani Catanzaro	Spain	CT	19/09/03	Castres	Top 14	France
Juan Martín Montilla	Spain	CT		Clermont	Top 14	France
Mathias Ortiz	France	CT	26/04/03	Stade Français	Top 14	France
Hugo Pichardie	Spain	CT	10/01/05	Toulouse	Top 14	France
Mateo Aragón	Spain	WG	01/05/06	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France
Alberto Carmona	Spain	WG	11/05/04	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Beltrán Ortega	Spain	WG	13/01/05	Clermont	Top 14	France
Pelayo Serrano	Spain	WG		Toulouse	Top 14	France

Comment: Now a world top 12 ranked U20 team, Spain has a decent number of Espoirs in France. Of them Merkler and Imaz made senior debuts last season. However scarcely persuaded any new eligible French Top/Pro D2 pros to join the team in recent years.

 Switzerland (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Vincent Vial	France	TH	21/06/94	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Nicolas Mousties	France	FL	25/05/98	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: Only change from last season is Ahmed Kane, who in 2022 nearly became first homegrown Swiss player in Top 14 when he sat on the bench for Lyon but didn't get on the field, has now moved to Chambéry in Nationale to get more game time.

Oceania

 Cook Islands (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Shahn Eru	New Zealand	LK	20/09/89	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Tyrone Viiga	Australia	N8	09/06/92	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l

Comment: Eru and Viiga are now both into their 7th season playing in France. Cook Islands have played just one test since 2018 and unlikely any new names added to this list soon.

 Fiji (74)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Eroni Mawi	Fiji	LH	02/06/96	Saracens	Premiership	England	Int'l
Sam Matavesi	England	HK	13/01/92	Northampton	Premiership	England	Int'l
Peniami Narisia	Fiji	HK	10/06/97	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Luke Tagi	Fiji	TH	23/06/97	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Johnny Dyer	Fiji	LK	06/02/92	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Petero Mailulu	Fiji	LK	26/07/02	Béziers	Pro D2	France
Joeli Matalaweru	Fiji	LK	12/01/01	Brive	Pro D2	France
Temo Mayanavanua	Fiji	LK	09/11/97	Northampton	Premiership	England	Int'l
Sikeli Nabou	Fiji	LK	05/03/88	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Leone Nakarawa	Fiji	LK	04/02/88	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Taniela Ramasibana	Fiji	LK	18/12/00	Perpignan	Top 14	France	A
Tevita Ratuva	Fiji	LK	08/05/95	Brive	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Lekima Tagitagivalu	Fiji	LK	04/12/95	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Levani Botia	Fiji	FL	14/03/89	La Rochelle	Top 14	France	Int'l
Masivesi Dakuwaqa	Fiji	FL	14/02/94	Montpellier	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ratu Nacika	Fiji	FL	13/12/94	Dax	Pro D2	France
Joseva Tamani	Fiji	FL	02/04/97	Colomiers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Peceli Yato	Fiji	FL	17/01/93	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Kitione Kamikamica	Fiji	N8	27/04/96	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Viliame Mata	Fiji	N8	22/10/91	Edinburgh	URC	Scotland	Int'l
Pio Muarua	Fiji	N8	28/06/96	Grenoble	Pro D2	France
Taniela Sadrugu	Fiji	N8	25/07/98	Brive	Pro D2	France
Albert Tuisue	Fiji	N8	06/06/93	Gloucester	Premiership	England	Int'l
Veresa Tuqovu	Fiji	N8	12/06/00	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	A
Ben Volavola	Australia	FH	13/01/91	Agen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Eto Bainivalu	Fiji	CT	13/02/01	Provence	Pro D2	France
Ilikena Bolakoro	Fiji	CT	22/08/87	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Vilimoni Botitu	Fiji	CT	15/06/98	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Rico Buliruarua	Fiji	CT	23/01/97	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Adrea Cocagi	Fiji	CT	01/03/94	Castres	Top 14	France
Seva Galala	Fiji	CT	29/01/93	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Alivereti Loaloa	Fiji	CT	10/12/00	Nevers	Pro D2	France	A
Sireli Maqala	Fiji	CT	20/03/00	Bayonne	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ledua Mau	Fiji	CT	16/02/93	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Apisai Naqalevu	Fiji	CT	21/08/89	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Nasoni Naqiri	Fiji	CT	30/07/93	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Waisea Nayacalevu	Fiji	CT	26/06/90	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ben Neiceru	Fiji	CT	29/01/93	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France
Christa Powell	Fiji	CT	21/01/97	Aurillac	Pro D2	France
Semi Radradra	Fiji	CT	13/06/92	Lyon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Kalaveti Ravouvou	Fiji	CT	06/06/98	Bristol	Premiership	England	Int'l
Kolinio Ramoka	Fiji	CT	24/06/94	Agen	Pro D2	France
Eddie Sawailau	Fiji	CT	04/04/96	Perpignan	Top 14	France
Akuila Tabualevu	Fiji	CT	02/10/94	Angoulême	Pro D2	France
Inia Tabuavou	Fiji	CT	31/08/02	Racing 92	Top 14	France
Setariki Tuicuvu	Fiji	CT	07/09/95	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Josua Tuisova	Fiji	CT	04/02/94	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Jale Vatubua	Fiji	CT	30/08/91	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Watisoni Votu	Fiji	CT	25/03/85	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Nacani Wakaya	Fiji	CT	25/06/91	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France
Paula Walisoliso	Fiji	CT	01/04/97	Brive	Pro D2	France	7s
Setareki Bituniyata	Fiji	WG	12/08/95	Toulouse	Top 14	France	7s
Peniasi Dakuwaqa	Fiji	WG	09/04/97	Stade Français	Top 14	France
Alivereti Duguivalu	Fiji	WG	21/07/97	Perpignan	Top 14	France
Vinaya Habosi	Fiji	WG	30/01/00	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Semi Lagivala	Fiji	WG	06/04/03	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France
Benito Masilevu	Fiji	WG	07/10/89	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Mosese Mawalu	Fiji	WG	08/07/93	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France	7s
Wame Naituvi	Fiji	WG	18/05/96	Racing 92	Top 14	France
Filipo Nakosi	Fiji	WG	08/04/92	Castres	Top 14	France	Int'l
Inoke Nalaga	Fiji	WG	07/06/00	Agen	Pro D2	France
Jope Naseara	Fiji	WG	11/12/02	Dax	Pro D2	France
Ratu Naulago	Fiji	WG	08/06/91	Bristol	Premiership	England
Tevita Railevu	Fiji	WG	05/03/97	Agen	Pro D2	France
Josaia Raisuqe	Fiji	WG	22/07/94	Castres	Top 14	France	7s
Onisi Ratave	Fiji	WG	06/06/92	Benetton	URC	Italy
Timilai Rokoduru	Fiji	WG	21/01/93	Agen	Pro D2	France
Eroni Sau	Fiji	WG	05/02/90	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Aminiasi Tuimaba	Fiji	WG	26/03/95	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Asaeli Tuivuaka	Fiji	WG	22/12/95	Brive	Pro D2	France	7s
Josua Vici	Fiji	WG	20/02/94	Montauban	Pro D2	France	7s
Jiuta Wainiqolo	Fiji	WG	10/03/99	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Osea Waqa	Fiji	WG	22/04/00	Castres	Top 14	France	A
Simeli Yabaki	Fiji	WG	20/02/98	Aurillac	Pro D2	France

Homegrown players called up by other countries (7)

Pita-Gus Sowakula	Fiji	N8	26/10/94	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Sefa Naivalu	Fiji	CT	07/01/92	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Virimi Vakatawa	Fiji	CT	01/05/92	Bristol	Premiership	France	Int'l
Alivereti Raka	Fiji	WG	09/12/94	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Joe Ravouvou	Fiji	WG	21/03/91	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	7s
Semesi Rokoduguni	Fiji	WG	28/08/87	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tavite Veredamu	Fiji	WG	01/09/89	Perpignan	Top 14	France	7s

Yet to play first team rugby (22)

Daniel Fereti	Fiji	TH	07/05/02	Brive	Pro D2	France
Apisalome Kuruisaqila	Fiji	LK	23/02/02	Béziers	Pro D2	France
Sateki Nabonu	Fiji	LK		Nevers	Pro D2	France
Semi Ramacake	Fiji	LK	31/03/03	Valence Romans	Pro D2	France
Setareki Turagacoke	Fiji	LK		Stade Français	Top 14	France
Janeiro Wakeham	Fiji	LK	14/03/03	Stade Français	Top 14	France	A
Atunaisa Sokobale	Fiji	FL	10/05/05	Castres	Top 14	France
Max Lestro	Fiji	N8	08/06/02	Brive	Pro D2	France
Ronald Sharma	Fiji	N8		Perpignan	Top 14	France
Josateki Tuitaba	Fiji	N8	26/06/01	Nevers	Pro D2	France	A
Erami Baca	Fiji	CT		Nevers	Pro D2	France
Tomasi Seru	Fiji	CT	09/06/04	La Rochelle	Top 14	France
Vilimoni Seru	Fiji	CT	08/01/01	Nevers	Pro D2	France
Tomasi Tuitatava	Fiji	CT	23/05/04	Oyonnax	Top 14	France
Tevita Boseiwaqa	Fiji	WG	31/08/02	Béziers	Pro D2	France
Jioji Koroinawai	Fiji	WG		Nevers	Pro D2	France
Sevuloni Lutu	Fiji	WG	17/06/01	Béziers	Pro D2	France
Ian Ratu	Fiji	WG	22/10/03	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France
Tevita Sabola	Fiji	WG	13/01/03	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France
Setareki Toganiyadrava	Fiji	WG		Perpignan	Top 14	France
Viliame Tutuvuli	Fiji	WG	10/10/01	Clermont	Top 14	France
Peni Vuetimaiwai	Fiji	WG		La Rochelle	Top 14	France

Comment: The Drua pathway emerging so far has had no impact on numbers of Fijians playing in Europe, in fact there was a resurgence in youngsters signing Espoirs contracts in the summer with 10 new faces nearly doubling number of U21 players there were last year.

 Samoa (38)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Logovi'i Mulipola	Samoa	LH	11/03/87	Saracens	Premiership	England	Int'l
Aki Seiuli	New Zealand	LH	22/12/92	Dragons	URC	Wales	Int'l
Elia Elia	New Zealand	HK	22/01/96	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Seilala Lam	Australia	HK	18/02/89	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Manu Leiataua	New Zealand	HK	26/12/86	Oyonnax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Motu Matu'u	New Zealand	HK	30/04/87	Angoulême	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Luteru Tolai	New Zealand	HK	01/06/98	Biarritz	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Michael Ala'alatoa	Australia	TH	28/08/91	Leinster	URC	Ireland	Int'l
Paul Alo-Emile	Australia	TH	22/12/91	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Marco Fepulea'i	New Zealand	TH	25/04/95	Colomiers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Titi Lamositele	USA	TH	11/02/95	Montpellier	Top 14	France	Int'l
Nephi Leatigaga	New Zealand	TH	05/12/93	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tietie Tuimauga	Samoa	TH	05/08/93	Montauban	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Brian Alainu'uese	New Zealand	LK	19/03/94	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Piula Fa'asalele	New Zealand	LK	22/01/88	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l
Mat Luamanu	New Zealand	LK	04/03/88	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Brandon Nansen	New Zealand	LK	03/11/93	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Senio Toleafoa	Australia	LK	26/08/93	Nevers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Josh Tyrell	New Zealand	LK	16/10/90	Provence	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Chris Vui	New Zealand	LK	11/02/93	Bristol	Premiership	England	Int'l
Steven Luatua	New Zealand	FL	29/04/91	Bristol	Premiership	England	Int'l
Theo McFarland	Samoa	FL	16/10/95	Saracens	Premiership	England	Int'l
So'otala Fa'aso'o	New Zealand	N8	02/10/94	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Tala Gray	Australia	N8	28/02/90	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Giovanni Kueffner	New Zealand	N8	09/01/95	Stade Français	Top 14	France
Fritz Lee	Samoa	N8	29/08/88	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Genesis Mamea	New Zealand	N8	22/09/88	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Henry Stowers	New Zealand	N8	03/03/95	Benetton	URC	Italy	Int'l
Jordan Taufua	New Zealand	N8	29/01/92	Lyon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Tim Nanai-Williams	New Zealand	FH	12/06/89	Béziers	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Rey Lee-Lo	New Zealand	CT	20/02/86	Cardiff	URC	Wales	Int'l
Alex Luatua	New Zealand	CT	14/05/92	Rouen	Pro D2	France
Tumua Manu	Samoa	CT	18/04/93	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Elijah Niko	New Zealand	CT	11/09/90	Aurillac	Pro D2	France	7s
Duncan Paia'aua	Australia	CT	20/01/95	Toulon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ope Peleseuma	New Zealand	CT	11/02/92	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Ulupano Seuteni	Australia	CT	09/12/93	La Rochelle	Top 14	France	Int'l
Ben Lam	New Zealand	WG	09/06/91	Montpellier	Top 14	France	Int'l

Comment: Samoa's Europe based pool of pro players has taken a hit over recent years from reduced pro opportunities in England, but the reduction has been lessened a little this year with inclusion of likes of Lamositele, Luatua, Ben Lam after switching to them.

 Tonga (32)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Based	Cap
Ziggy Fisi'ihoi	Tonga	LH	06/08/87	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Feao Fotuaika	Australia	LH	23/04/93	Lyon	Top 14	France	Int'l
Wesley Tapueluelu	Tonga	LH	03/12/99	Brive	Pro D2	France
Siua Maile	Tonga	HK	18/02/97	Benetton	URC	Italy	Int'l
Siua Halanukonuka	New Zealand	TH	09/08/86	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Phil Kite	Australia	TH	24/04/93	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
David Lolohea	Australia	TH	26/02/92	Dax	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tevita Tatafu	Tonga	TH	13/10/02	Bayonne	Top 14	France
Ben Tameifuna	New Zealand	TH	30/08/91	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France	Int'l
Siate Tokolahi	Tonga	TH	16/03/92	Pau	Top 14	France	Int'l
Leva Fifita	Tonga	LK	29/07/89	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	Int'l
Vaea Fifita	Tonga	LK	17/06/92	Scarlets	URC	Wales	Int'l
Sam Lousi	New Zealand	LK	20/07/91	Scarlets	URC	Wales	Int'l
Steve Mafi	Australia	LK	09/12/89	Oyonnax	Top 14	France	Int'l
Veikoso Poloniati	New Zealand	LK	27/08/95	Racing 92	Top 14	France	Int'l
Tomasi Fineanganofo	Tonga	FL	14/04/03	Agen	Pro D2	France
Tanginoa Halaifonua	Tonga	FL	20/09/96	Stade Français	Top 14	France	Int'l
Michael Faleafa	New Zealand	N8	03/02/92	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Sione Kalamafoni	Tonga	N8	18/05/88	Vannes	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Fotu Lokotui	Tonga	N8	19/03/92	Agen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Valentino Mapapalangi	New Zealand	N8	18/07/93	Rouen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Lopeti Timani	Tonga	N8	28/09/90	Cardiff	URC	Wales	Int'l
Sione Vailanu	Tonga	N8	27/01/95	Glasgow	URC	Scotland	Int'l
Tane Takulua	New Zealand	SH	11/01/91	Agen	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Pita Ahki	New Zealand	CT	24/09/92	Toulouse	Top 14	France	Int'l
Malakai Fekitoa	Tonga	CT	10/05/92	Benetton	URC	Italy	Int'l
Solomone Kata	Tonga	CT	03/12/94	Leicester	Premiership	England	Int'l
George Moala	New Zealand	CT	05/11/90	Clermont	Top 14	France	Int'l
Fetuli Paea	Tonga	CT	16/08/94	Zebre	URC	Italy	Int'l
Afusipa Taumoepeau	Australia	CT	26/01/90	Perpignan	Top 14	France	Int'l
Atu Manu	New Zealand	WG	24/07/98	Grenoble	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Telusa Veainu	New Zealand	FB	26/12/90	Sale	Premiership	England	Int'l

Homegrown players called up by other countries (2)

Sitaleki Timani	Tonga	LK	19/09/86	Brive	Pro D2	France	Int'l
Tevita Tatafu	Tonga	N8	02/01/96	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	France	Int'l

Comment: Like Samoa, Tonga's number of players has also been falling with far fewer pros now in England, both countries used to be well over 40+. However combined with Moana Pasifika both still have among largest eligible pro player pools among "Tier 2" nations.