Players from 'Tier 2' nations playing in Europe (2018/2019)

This year we have added a bit more detail to our annual list of all the players from outside Tier 1 nations playing professionally in Western Europe (in the Top 14 or Pro D2 in France, Premiership or Championship in England, or Pro14 in the Celtic nations and Italy).

The main list of compiled based on players who have made their professional first team domestic debut and either a) raised and gone through most of their development outside a Tier 1 nation or 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 the senior team either at 15 or 7s.

However this season we have also additionally listed players in Espoirs or Academy squads who have not yet made their full first team professional debut (such players are shaded in green). Plus also players who were predominantly raised in a Tier 2 nation (like Tim Visser or Samu Ezeala) but have since gone on to be part of a squad of another nation (they are shaded in red). There are also a couple of players who have yet to make their first team debut, were raised mostly outside a Tier 1 nation, but who have represented different nations at youth level (they are shaded green but with red text).

We have attempted to represent 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 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. In cases of scholarship players who can move as young as 15 or 16, we are listing them as with their initial country that raised them to that point even though they may have spent as much time training in their adopted country by the time they are 22 or 23.

Finally also added which players are officially cap tied through 15s, 7s, or a designated second team.

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

Africa (29)

 Algeria (8)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Sofiane Chellat	France	LH	12/01/90	Massy	Pro D2	Int'l
Issam Hamel	France	HK	18/06/97	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Youssef Saaidia	France	HK	09/02/95	Colomiers	Pro D2
Jonathan Best	France	LK	02/08/83	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Saïd Hireche	France	FL	27/05/85	Brive	Pro D2
Lucien Maman	France	SH	26/02/94	Richmond	Championship	Int'l
Mathieu Lorée	France	SH	18/06/87	Massy	Pro D2	Int'l
Julien Caminati	France	WG	28/10/85	Castres	Top 14

 Cameroon (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Christian Njewel	Cameroon	LK	22/03/90	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l

 Ivory Coast (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Evrard Oulai	Ivory Coast	LK	22/06/93	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Bakary Meité	France	N8	30/09/83	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Christian Lacombe	France	FH	04/12/99	Agen	Top 14
Yann Lohore	Ivory Coast	WG	23/05/89	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l

 Madagascar

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Corentin Delaune	France	LK		Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l

 Morocco (4)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Mehdi Boundjema	France	HK	07/06/90	Angoulême	Pro D2	Int'l
Mohamed Loukia	France	TH	28/07/93	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Abdellatif Boutaty	Morocco	LK	04/06/83	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Yassine Maamry	France	LK	08/07/93	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l

 Namibia (8)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Torsten van Jaarsveld	South Africa	HK	30/06/87	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Aranos Coetzee	South Africa	TH	14/03/88	Cheetahs	Pro14	Int'l
Patrick Schickerling	Namibia	TH	16/10/98	Exeter	Premiership
Tjiuee Uanivi	Namibia	LK	31/12/90	London Scottish	Championship	Int'l
Paul Willemse	Namibia	LK	13/11/92	Montpellier	Top 14
Renaldo Bothma	South Africa	FL	18/09/89	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Janco Venter	Namibia	FL	19/09/94	Jersey	Championship	Int'l
PJ van Lill	Namibia	N8	04/12/83	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Johan Deysel	Namibia	CT	26/09/91	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Lesley Klim	Namibia	CT	16/01/95	Ospreys	Pro14	Int'l

 Tunisia (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Samir Hamrouni	France	TH		Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l
Bilel Taieb	France	FL	27/01/93	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l

 Zimbabwe (4)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Lovejoy Chawatama	Zimbabwe	TH	26/08/92	London Irish	Championship
Farai Mudariki	South Africa	TH	13/02/95	Worcester	Premiership	Int'l
Marco Mama	Zimbabwe	FL	27/03/91	Worcester	Premiership
Mike Williams	Zimbabwe	FL	04/11/91	Leicester	Premiership
Hilton Mudariki	South Africa	SH	08/04/92	Jersey	Championship	Int'l

Americas (38)

 Canada (11)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Jake Ilnicki	Canada	TH	24/02/92	Yorkshire Carnegie	Championship	Int'l
Matt Tierney	Canada	TH	04/07/96	Pau	Top 14	Int'l
Brett Beukeboom	Canada	LK	13/08/90	Cornish Pirates	Championship	Int'l
Matt Beukeboom	Canada	LK	03/04/97	Pau	Top 14	Int'l
Quentin James	Canada	LK	16/08/99	Perpignan	Top 14
Justin Blanchet	England	FL	25/08/93	Bedford	Championship
Robert Barbieri	Canada	N8	05/06/84	Benetton	Pro14	Int'l
Will Percillier	Singapore	SH	30/01/99	Stade Français	Top 14
Will Kelly	Canada	FH	05/08/97	Dragons	Pro14
Shane O'Leary	Ireland	FH	12/03/93	Nottingham	Championship	Int'l
Ciaran Hearn	Canada	CT	30/12/85	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Conor Trainor	Canada	CT	05/12/89	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Matt Evans	Canada	WG	02/01/88	Cornish Pirates	Championship	Int'l
Taylor Paris	Canada	WG	06/10/92	Castres	Top 14	Int'l
DTH van der Merwe	South Africa	WG	28/04/86	Glasgow	Pro14	Int'l
Robbie Povey	England	FB	21/09/96	Coventry	Championship	Int'l

 Chile (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Ramón Ayarza	Chile	LH	28/08/93	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Pablo Huete	Chile	LK	11/01/89	Angoulême	Pro D2	Int'l

 Colombia (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Andrés Zafra	Colombia	LK	26/03/96	Agen	Top 14	Int'l

 Jamaica (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Rhodri Adamson	England	SH	29/10/93	Richmond	Championship	7s

 Uruguay (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Reinaldo Piussi	Uruguay	TH	18/05/99	Oyonnax	Pro D2
Rodrigo Capó Ortega	Uruguay	LK	08/12/80	Castres	Top 14	Int'l
Manuel Leindekar	Uruguay	LK	23/04/97	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l
Agustín Ormaechea	Uruguay	SH	08/03/91	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	Int'l

 USA (20)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
David Ainuu	USA	LH	20/11/99	Toulouse	Top 14	Int'l
Callum Black	England	LH	25/02/86	Worcester	Premiership
Eric Fry	USA	LH	14/09/87	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
Joe Taufete'e	USA	HK	04/10/92	Worcester	Premiership	Int'l
Titi Lamositele	USA	TH	11/02/95	Saracens	Premiership	Int'l
Dave Ryan	Ireland	TH	21/04/86	Agen	Top 14
Dino Waldren	USA	TH	11/07/91	London Scottish	Championship	Int'l
Nick Civetta	USA	LK	05/11/89	Doncaster	Championship	Int'l
Ben Landry	USA	LK	26/03/91	Ealing	Championship	Int'l
Christian Ostberg	USA	LK	19/07/94	Aurillac	Pro D2	A
Greg Peterson	Australia	LK	26/03/91	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Andrew Durutalo	Fiji	FL	25/10/87	Ealing	Championship	Int'l
Nafi Maafu	USA	N8	18/06/98	Perpignan	Top 14
David Tameilau	USA	N8	22/01/90	Glasgow	Pro14	Int'l
Ruben de Haas	USA	SH	09/10/98	Cheetahs	Pro14	Int'l
Will Hooley	England	FH	28/11/93	Bedford	Championship	Int'l
Aj MacGinty	Ireland	FH	26/02/90	Sale	Premiership	Int'l
Bryce Campbell	USA	CT	21/09/94	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Paul Lasike	New Zealand	CT	18/06/90	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Ronnie McLean	England	CT	05/06/85	Richmond	Championship	Int'l
Deion Mikesell	USA	WG	07/01/97	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Blaine Scully	USA	WG	29/02/88	Cardiff Blues	Pro14	Int'l

Asia (1)

 Hong Kong (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Matt Worley	Hong Kong	WG	06/09/97	Northampton	Premiership

 Japan

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Hiroki Taguchi	Japan	FB		Vannes	Pro D2

 Singapore

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Will Percillier	Singapore	SH	30/01/99	Stade Français	Top 14

 UAE

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Jordan Onojaife	UAE	LK	02/08/95	Ealing	Championship
Devante Onojaife	UAE	FL	15/04/98	Northampton	Premiership

Europe (117)

 Andorra

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Pep Arasanz	Andorra	FB		Exeter	Premiership

 Belgium (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Charlesty Berguet	Belgium	LH		Perpignan	Top 14
Vincent Debaty	Belgium	LH	02/10/81	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l
Bastien Gallaire	France	LH	29/03/99	Stade Français	Top 14	Int'l
Martin Jessen	Belgium	HK		Carcassonne	Pro D2	U20
Sven D'Hooghe	Belgium	LK	06/03/97	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Alec Maloir	Belgium	LK	26/08/97	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Guillaume Mortier	France	LK	24/08/97	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Willy Santer	France	LK		Toulon	Top 14
William Van Bost	Belgium	FL	01/08/98	Toulon	Top 14
Isaac Montoisy	Belgium	SH	09/09/98	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l
Samuel Jung	France	FH		Carcassonne	Pro D2	U20
Viktor Pazgrat	Belgium	CT		Perpignan	Top 14
Jens Torfs	Belgium	CT	25/05/92	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	Int'l
Ervin Muric	Belgium	WG	03/01/97	Hartpury College	Championship	Int'l
Thomas Wallraf	France	WG	21/01/98	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Samuel Couplan	Belgium	FB		Stade Français	Top 14

 Cyprus (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Yiannis Loizias	England	CT	14/01/95	London Scottish	Championship	Int'l

 Georgia (50)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Giorgi Akhaladze	Georgia	LH	13/04/99	Massy	Pro D2
Karlen Asieshvili	Georgia	LH	21/04/87	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Guram Gogichashvili	Georgia	LH	04/09/98	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Luka Goginava	Georgia	LH	04/10/96	Brive	Pro D2
Beqa Kakabadze	Georgia	LH	07/09/95	Clermont	Top 14
Vasil Kakovin	Georgia	LH	01/12/89	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Vazha Kapanadze	Georgia	LH	15/01/95	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2
Tornike Mataradze	Georgia	LH	18/10/96	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Mikheil Nariashvili	Georgia	LH	25/05/90	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Nika Neparidze	Georgia	LH	18/02/96	Vannes	Pro D2
Giorgi Nutsubidze	Georgia	LH	11/11/98	Biarritz	Pro D2
Val Rapava Ruskin	England	LH	12/10/92	Gloucester	Premiership
Ushangi Tcheishvili	Georgia	LH	29/08/97	Montpellier	Top 14	U20
Giorgi Tetrashvili	Georgia	LH	31/08/93	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Giorgi Vepkhvadze	Georgia	LH	05/07/91	Aurillac	Pro D2
Zurab Zhvania	Georgia	LH	23/09/91	Wasps	Premiership	Int'l
Badri Alkhazashvili	Georgia	HK	31/07/95	Toulon	Top 14	Int'l
Vano Karkadze	Georgia	HK	25/06/00	Aurillac	Pro D2
Gio Nefaridze	Georgia	HK	23/03/96	Angoulême	Pro D2
Otar Turashvili	Georgia	HK	14/07/86	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Vakhtangi Akhobadze	Georgia	TH	07/05/93	Biarritz	Pro D2
Luka Azariashvili	Georgia	TH	15/02/99	Montpellier	Top 14
Soso Bekoshvili	Georgia	TH	03/11/93	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Mirian Burduli	Georgia	TH	06/01/91	Carcassonne	Pro D2
Luka Chelidze	Georgia	TH	01/08/00	Toulon	Top 14
Levan Chilachava	Georgia	TH	17/08/91	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Beqa Gigashvili	Georgia	TH	17/02/92	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Nika Gvaladze	Georgia	TH	02/02/99	Grenoble	Top 14
Luka Japaridze	Georgia	TH	06/10/98	Brive	Pro D2
Ilia Kaikatsishvili	Georgia	TH	19/02/93	Massy	Pro D2
Lekso Kaulashvili	Georgia	TH	27/08/92	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
Saba Kaulashvili	Georgia	TH	26/02/99	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
Gia Kharaishvili	Georgia	TH	13/02/99	Racing 92	Top 14
Davit Kubriashvili	Georgia	TH	03/12/86	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Irodi Kutsniashvili	Georgia	TH	20/02/99	Angoulême	Pro D2
Lasha Macharashvili	Georgia	TH	13/11/98	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2
Giorgi Melikidze	Georgia	TH	24/05/96	Stade Français	Top 14	Int'l
Irakli Mirtskhulava	Georgia	TH	22/12/88	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l
Omar Odishvili	Georgia	TH	02/07/97	Pau	Top 14
Guram Papidze	Georgia	TH	16/06/97	Nevers	Pro D2	U20
Jemal Shatirishvili	Georgia	TH	22/12/98	La Rochelle	Top 14
Beka Sheklashvili	Georgia	TH	06/07/86	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Lasha Tabidze	Georgia	TH	04/07/97	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Rati Tchitchiashvili	Georgia	TH		Montpellier	Top 14
Zauri Tevdorashvili	Georgia	TH	21/01/99	Angoulême	Pro D2
Khvicha Tsopurashvili	Georgia	TH	02/02/00	Stade Français	Top 14
Davit Zirakashvili	Georgia	TH	10/10/83	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Nodar Cheishvili	Georgia	LK	13/11/90	Cornish Pirates	Championship	Int'l
Lasha Lomidze	Georgia	LK	30/06/92	Doncaster	Championship	Int'l
Giorgi Javakhia	Georgia	LK	24/09/96	Aurillac	Pro D2
Kote Mikautadze	Georgia	LK	01/07/91	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Giorgi Nemsadze	Georgia	LK	26/09/84	Ospreys	Pro14	Int'l
Shalva Sutiashvili	Georgia	LK	24/01/84	Angoulême	Pro D2	Int'l
Mamuka Gorgodze	Georgia	FL	14/07/84	Toulon	Top 14	Int'l
Vito Kolelishvili	Georgia	FL	09/10/89	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Beqa Saginadze	Georgia	FL	29/10/98	Aurillac	Pro D2	U20
Irakli Tskhadadze	Georgia	FL	01/08/96	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
Giorgi Tsutskiridze	France	FL	26/11/96	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l
Otar Giorgadze	Georgia	N8	02/03/96	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Beka Gorgadze	Georgia	N8	08/02/96	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Tornike Jalagonia	Georgia	N8	12/12/98	Biarritz	Pro D2	U20
Gela Aprasidze	Georgia	SH	14/01/98	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Vasil Lobzhanidze	Georgia	SH	14/10/96	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Tamaz Mchedlidze	Georgia	CT	17/03/93	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Merab Sharikadze	Georgia	CT	17/05/93	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l
Luka Yurin	Georgia	WG	13/05/97	Lyon	Top 14	7s
Giorgi Gogoladze	Georgia	FB	27/10/97	Aurillac	Pro D2	7s

 Germany (5)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Jonny Harris	England	LH	15/01/91	London Scottish	Championship
Julius Nostadt	Germany	LH	12/10/92	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l
Eric Marks	Germany	LK	09/12/96	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Emil Rupf	Germany	LK		Wasps	Premiership
Tim Menzel	Germany	SH	01/01/92	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
Chris Hilsenbeck	Germany	FH	10/01/92	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
Zani Dembele	France	WG	01/06/97	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Maxime Oltmann	France	WG	28/12/95	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l

 Hungary (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Bence Róth	Hungary	LK	02/08/96	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l

 Lithuania (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Karolis Navickas	Lithuania	LK	09/04/90	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l

 Moldova (4)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Dmitri Arhip	Moldova	TH	12/11/88	Cardiff Blues	Pro14	Int'l
Vadim Cobilas	Moldova	TH	30/07/83	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Gheorghe Gajion	Moldova	TH	13/11/92	Ospreys	Pro14	Int'l
Cristian Ojovan	Moldova	TH	04/01/97	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l

 Netherlands (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Noah de Wild	Netherlands	LH	27/12/99	London Scottish	Championship
Koen Bloemen	Netherlands	LK	13/05/98	Montpellier	Top 14	U20
Dennis van Dijken	Netherlands	LK		Aurillac	Pro D2
Jesse de Vries	Netherlands	FL	05/03/99	Aurillac	Pro D2	U20
Zeno Kieft	Netherlands	FL	02/11/91	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Kevin Krieger	Netherlands	N8	11/09/98	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Jake Ashby	New Zealand	SH		Cornish Pirates	Championship	Int'l
Jasey van Kampen	Netherlands	FH	11/07/98	Aurillac	Pro D2	U20
Tim Visser	Netherlands	WG	29/05/87	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l

 Poland (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Andrzej Charlat	France	WG	31/12/94	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l
Auguy Slowik	England	WG	15/12/93	Jersey	Championship

 Portugal (10)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Francisco Fernandes	France	LH	06/09/85	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Mike Tadjer	France	HK	10/03/89	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Anthony Alves	France	TH	23/06/89	Aurillac	Pro D2	Int'l
Thibault de Sousa	France	TH	01/08/97	Castres	Top 14
Rui d'Orey	Portugal	LK	31/10/85	Richmond	Championship	Int'l
Julien Bardy	France	FL	03/04/86	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Aurélien Beco	France	FL	12/03/86	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Jean Sousa	France	FL	11/07/90	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Samuel Marques	France	SH	08/12/88	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Pedro Bettencourt	Portugal	CT	18/11/94	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
José Lima	Portugal	CT	24/04/92	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l

 Romania (11)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Mihai Lazăr	Romania	LH	03/11/86	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Andrei Ursache	Romania	LH	10/05/84	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Otar Turashvili	Georgia	HK	14/07/86	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Alexandru Tarus	Romania	TH	09/05/89	Sale	Premiership	Int'l
Marius Antonescu	Romania	LK	03/08/92	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Alin Coste	Romania	LK	22/02/87	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Virgil Ghenea	Romania	LK	26/04/01	Aurillac	Pro D2
Adrian Motoc	Romania	LK	11/07/96	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Johan van Heerden	South Africa	LK	09/12/86	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Mihai Macovei	Romania	FL	29/10/86	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Valentin Ursache	Romania	FL	12/08/85	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l
André Gorin	Romania	N8	30/11/87	Massy	Pro D2	Int'l

 Russia (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Valery Morozov	Russia	LH	21/09/94	Sale	Premiership	Int'l
Andrei Ostrikov	Russia	LK	02/07/87	Sale	Premiership	Int'l
Serge Sergueev	France	LK	26/12/87	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l

 Spain (22)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Jean-Baptiste Custoja	France	LH	20/05/93	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Lucas Santamaría	Spain	LH		Biarritz	Pro D2
Xabier Solano	Spain	LH		Bayonne	Pro D2
Tommy Vaysset	France	LH	25/10/96	Béziers	Pro D2
Iker Aduriz	Spain	HK		Bayonne	Pro D2
Andy Petros	Spain	HK		Wasps	Premiership
Marco Pinto	Spain	HK	11/11/87	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Juan Carlos Sánchez	Spain	HK		Racing 92	Top 14
Xerom Civil	France	TH	02/04/94	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Jonathan Garcia	France	TH	05/12/84	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Joel Merkler	Spain	TH		Toulouse	Top 14
Jesús Moreno	Spain	TH	24/01/86	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Javier Prieto	Spain	TH	28/11/99	Biarritz	Pro D2
Jon Zabala	Spain	TH	26/11/96	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Gorbei Allende	Spain	LK	10/04/01	Biarritz	Pro D2
Mickaël de Marco	France	LK	22/04/89	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Alex Gimeno	Spain	LK	01/12/97	Béziers	Pro D2
Hugo Carriere	Spain	FL		Provence	Pro D2
Vincent Farré	France	FL	06/06/90	Agen	Top 14
Gautier Gibouin	France	FL	24/03/89	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Fred Quercy	France	FL	06/07/91	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Matheo Triki	Spain	FL		La Rochelle	Top 14
Asier Usarraga	Spain	FL	31/12/94	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Simón Zubizarreta	France	FL		Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2
Mario Pichardie	Spain	N8		Wasps	Premiership
Urko Zumeta	Spain	N8	14/03/01	Biarritz	Pro D2
Adrien Ayestaran	France	SH	07/09/87	Angoulême	Pro D2	Int'l
Grégory Maiquez	France	SH	07/09/85	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l
David Mélé	France	SH	22/10/85	Perpignan	Top 14
Tomás Munilla	Spain	SH	03/08/98	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Guillaume Rouet	France	SH	13/08/88	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Lucas Rubio	France	SH	29/05/91	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Eric Guitart	Spain	FH		Toulouse	Top 14
Nico Rocaries	Spain	FH		Biarritz	Pro D2
Rudy Derrieux	France	CT	06/02/93	Nevers	Pro D2
Charles Gimenez	France	CT	11/02/88	Biarritz	Pro D2
Gonzalo López	Spain	CT		Biarritz	Pro D2
Diego Periel	Spain	CT		Bath	Premiership
Fabien Perrin	France	CT	16/06/88	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l
Martín Alonso	Spain	WG		Clermont	Top 14	7s
Sébastien Ascarat	France	WG	30/05/88	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Samu Ezeala	Spain	WG	11/12/99	Clermont	Top 14
Jordi Jorbá	Spain	WG	08/05/97	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Dario Porta	Spain	WG		Béziers	Pro D2
Jean-Baptiste Richardis	France	WG		Montauban	Pro D2
Pep Arasanz	Andorra	FB		Exeter	Premiership
Victor Gavin	Spain	FB		Wasps	Premiership
Charly Malié	France	FB	05/11/91	Pau	Top 14	Int'l

 Switzerland (2)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Corentin Braendlin	France	LK	29/04/94	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Benjamin Doy	France	CT	13/09/93	Bourg-en-Bresse	Pro D2	Int'l
Jeremy Toa	Switzerland	CT	30/08/96	Oyonnax	Pro D2	Int'l

Oceania (206)

 Cook Islands (3)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Shahn Eru	New Zealand	LK	20/09/89	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Steven Setephano	New Zealand	N8	15/04/84	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Tyrone Viiga	Australia	N8	09/06/92	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l

 Fiji (93)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Campese Ma'afu	Australia	LH	19/12/84	Leicester	Premiership	Int'l
Peni Ravai	Fiji	LH	16/06/90	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Sunia Vola	Fiji	LH	18/05/93	Vannes	Pro D2
Sam Matavesi	England	HK	13/01/92	Cornish Pirates	Championship	Int'l
Talemaitoga Tuapati	Fiji	HK	16/08/85	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Lee-Roy Atalifo	Fiji	TH	10/03/88	Jersey	Championship	Int'l
Manasa Saulo	Fiji	TH	06/04/89	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Kalivati Tawake	Fiji	TH	16/11/88	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Josaia Cama	Fiji	LK	27/07/97	Biarritz	Pro D2
Tevita Cavubati	Fiji	LK	12/08/87	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Sikeli Nabou	Fiji	LK	05/03/88	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Leone Nakarawa	Fiji	LK	04/02/88	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Jone Qovu	Fiji	LK	26/07/85	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Api Ratuniyarawa	Fiji	LK	11/07/86	Northampton	Premiership	Int'l
Tevita Ratuva	Fiji	LK	08/05/95	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	A
Jone Seuvou	Fiji	LK	06/01/96	Carcassonne	Pro D2
Albert Tuisue	Fiji	LK	06/06/93	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Levani Botia	Fiji	FL	14/03/89	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Andrew Durutalo	Fiji	FL	25/10/87	Ealing	Championship	Int'l
Kitione Kamikamica	Fiji	FL	27/04/96	Vannes	Pro D2
Semi Kunatani	Fiji	FL	27/10/90	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Peniami Narisia	Fiji	FL	10/06/97	Brive	Pro D2
Akapusi Qera	Fiji	FL	24/04/84	Hartpury College	Championship	Int'l
Lekima Tagitagivalu	Fiji	FL	04/12/95	Pau	Top 14
Apisai Tauyavuca	Fiji	FL	01/04/93	Zebre	Pro14
Dominiko Waqaniburotu	Fiji	FL	20/04/86	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Laijaisa Bolenaivalu	Fiji	N8	27/01/93	Vannes	Pro D2
Nathan Hughes	Fiji	N8	10/06/91	Wasps	Premiership	Int'l
Viliame Mata	Fiji	N8	22/10/91	Edinburgh	Pro14	Int'l
Pio Muarua	Fiji	N8	28/06/96	Angoulême	Pro D2
Nemani Nagusa	Fiji	N8	21/06/88	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Senitiki Nayalo	Fiji	N8	12/05/91	Edinburgh	Pro14
Tevita Paea	Fiji	N8	24/01/97	Nevers	Pro D2
Henry Spring	Fiji	N8	14/03/01	Stade Français	Top 14
Manoa Vosawai	Fiji	N8	12/08/83	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
Peceli Yato	Fiji	N8	17/01/93	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Henry Seniloli	Fiji	SH	15/06/89	Doncaster	Championship	Int'l
Ben Volavola	Australia	FH	13/01/91	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Ilikena Bolakoro	Fiji	CT	22/08/87	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Seremaia Burotu	Fiji	CT	19/07/87	Provence	Pro D2	7s
Adrea Cocagi	Fiji	CT	01/03/94	Perpignan	Top 14
Seva Galala	Fiji	CT	29/01/93	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
Fred Hickes	Fiji	CT	17/07/92	Vannes	Pro D2	A
Gaby Lovobalavu	Fiji	CT	20/06/85	Wasps	Premiership	Int'l
Josh Matavesi	England	CT	05/10/90	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Ledua Mau	Fiji	CT	16/02/93	Angoulême	Pro D2
Apisai Naqalevu	Fiji	CT	21/08/89	Clermont	Top 14	7s
Nasoni Naqiri	Fiji	CT	30/07/93	Nevers	Pro D2
Apimeleki Nawaqatabu	Fiji	CT	03/02/95	Béziers	Pro D2
Waisea Nayacalevu	Fiji	CT	26/06/90	Stade Français	Top 14	Int'l
Christa Powell	Fiji	CT	21/01/97	Aurillac	Pro D2
Semi Radradra	Fiji	CT	13/06/92	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Tevita Railevu	Fiji	CT		La Rochelle	Top 14
Ropate Ratu	Fiji	CT	01/03/85	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	Int'l
Leone Ravuetaki	Fiji	CT	10/03/86	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Savenaca Rawaca	Fiji	CT	20/08/91	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Meli Rokoua	Fiji	CT	24/07/94	Southern Kings	Pro14
Edward Sawailau	Fiji	CT	04/04/96	Grenoble	Top 14
Waisale Sukanaveita	Fiji	CT	19/07/84	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Metuisela Talebula	Fiji	CT	20/05/91	Bayonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Seta Tamanivalu	Fiji	CT	23/07/92	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Joe Vakacegu	Fiji	CT	28/10/88	Biarritz	Pro D2
Virimi Vakatawa	Fiji	CT	01/05/92	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Eroni Vasiteri	Fiji	CT	27/05/89	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Albert VuliVuli	Fiji	CT	26/05/85	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
Jale Vatubua	Fiji	CT	30/08/91	Pau	Top 14	Int'l
Nacani Wakaya	Fiji	CT	25/06/91	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	A
Gordon Yabaki	Fiji	CT		Aurillac	Pro D2
Paula Balekana	Fiji	WG	18/05/93	Zebre	Pro14
Setareki Bituniyata	Fiji	WG	12/08/95	Massy	Pro D2	7s
Rico Buliruarua	Fiji	WG	23/01/97	Toulon	Top 14
Sakiusa Bureitakiyaca	Fiji	WG	02/02/92	Angoulême	Pro D2
Adriu Delai	Fiji	WG	11/06/84	Massy	Pro D2	Int'l
Freddy Duguivalu	Fiji	WG	21/07/97	Perpignan	Top 14
Vereniki Goneva	Fiji	WG	05/04/84	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Randall Kamea	Fiji	WG	03/01/87	Colomiers	Pro D2	7s
Isimeli Kuruibua	Fiji	WG	21/04/98	Biarritz	Pro D2
Benito Masilevu	Fiji	WG	07/10/89	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Timoci Matanavou	Fiji	WG	08/07/84	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	7s
Nikola Matawalu	Fiji	WG	08/03/89	Glasgow	Pro14	Int'l
Eto Nabuli	Fiji	WG	24/08/88	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Peceli Nacebe	Fiji	WG	27/09/95	Brive	Pro D2
Nemani Nadolo	Australia	WG	31/01/88	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Timoci Nagusa	Fiji	WG	14/07/87	Montpellier	Top 14	Int'l
Wame Naituvi	Fiji	WG	18/05/96	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2
Taqele Naiyaravoro	Fiji	WG	07/12/91	Northampton	Premiership	Int'l
Noa Nakaitaci	Fiji	WG	11/07/90	Lyon	Top 14	Int'l
Filipo Nakosi	Fiji	WG	08/04/92	Toulon	Top 14
Napolioni Nalaga	Fiji	WG	04/07/86	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Josaia Raisuqe	Fiji	WG	22/07/94	Nevers	Pro D2	7s
Kamilieni Raivono	Fiji	WG	13/05/96	Angoulême	Pro D2
Alivereti Raka	Fiji	WG	09/12/94	Clermont	Top 14
Iliesa Ratuva	Fiji	WG	27/06/90	Benetton	Pro14
Semesa Rokoduguni	Fiji	WG	28/08/87	Bath	Premiership	Int'l
Timilai Rokoduru	Fiji	WG	21/01/93	Agen	Top 14
Vilikisa Salawa	Fiji	WG	15/10/91	Vannes	Pro D2
Eroni Sau	Fiji	WG	05/02/90	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Leka Tagotago	Fiji	WG	20/12/90	Carcassonne	Pro D2
Uwa Tawalo	Fiji	WG	27/02/92	Biarritz	Pro D2
Josua Tuisova	Fiji	WG	04/02/94	Toulon	Top 14	Int'l
Jone Tuva	Fiji	WG	23/03/96	Lyon	Top 14
Eroni Tuwai	Fiji	WG	12/06/95	Aurillac	Pro D2
Venione Voretamaya	Fiji	WG	22/10/90	Colomiers	Pro D2
Watisoni Votu	Fiji	WG	25/03/85	Pau	Top 14	Int'l
Jone Waqaliva	Fiji	WG	18/06/95	Aurillac	Pro D2
Kini Murimurivalu	Fiji	FB	15/05/89	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Seta Tuicuvu	Fiji	FB	07/09/95	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Alivereti Veitokani	Fiji	FB	02/11/92	London Irish	Championship	Int'l

 Samoa (58)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Viliamu Afatia	Samoa	LH	24/05/90	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14	Int'l
Jordan Lay	New Zealand	LH	05/11/92	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Aniseko Sio	Samoa	LH	01/09/92	Nottingham	Championship	Int'l
Ole Avei	Australia	HK	13/06/83	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Elia Elia	New Zealand	HK	22/01/96	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Seilala Lam	Australia	HK	18/02/89	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Manu Leiataua	New Zealand	HK	26/12/86	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Motu Matu'u	New Zealand	HK	30/04/87	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Paul Alo-Emile	Australia	TH	22/12/91	Stade Français	Top 14	Int'l
Census Johnston	New Zealand	TH	06/05/81	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
James Johnston	New Zealand	TH	06/03/86	Brive	Pro D2	Int'l
James Lay	New Zealand	TH	16/12/93	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Nephi Leatigaga	New Zealand	TH	05/12/93	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Logovi'i Mulipola	Samoa	TH	11/03/87	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Anthony Perenise	New Zealand	TH	18/10/82	Bath	Premiership	Int'l
Hisa Sasagi	New Zealand	TH	29/06/87	Saracens	Premiership	Int'l
Eric Sione	New Zealand	TH	29/10/92	Perpignan	Top 14
Matt Talaese	New Zealand	TH	31/01/89	Doncaster	Championship	A
Brian Alainu'uese	New Zealand	LK	19/03/94	Toulon	Top 14
Jonny Fa'amatuainu	New Zealand	LK	29/12/83	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Piula Fa'asalele	New Zealand	LK	22/01/88	Toulouse	Top 14	Int'l
Maselino Paulino	Samoa	LK	21/06/88	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	Int'l
Filo Paulo	New Zealand	LK	06/11/87	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Joe Tekori	Samoa	LK	17/12/83	Toulouse	Top 14	Int'l
Masalosalo Tutaia	New Zealand	LK	05/06/84	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Chris Vui	New Zealand	LK	11/02/93	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Alafoti Fa'osiliva	Samoa	FL	28/10/85	Worcester	Premiership	Int'l
TJ Ioane	New Zealand	FL	09/05/89	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Giovanni Kueffner	New Zealand	FL	09/01/95	Pau	Top 14
Jack Lam	Australia	FL	18/11/87	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Kelly Meafua	New Zealand	FL	16/10/90	Béziers	Pro D2	7s
Brandon Nansen	New Zealand	FL	03/11/93	Dragons	Pro14	Int'l
Afa Amosa	Australia	N8	11/10/90	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
So'otala Fa'aso'o	New Zealand	N8	02/10/94	Brive	Pro D2
Fritz Lee	Samoa	N8	29/08/88	Clermont	Top 14	7s
Mat Luamanu	New Zealand	N8	04/03/88	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Genesis Mamea	New Zealand	N8	22/09/88	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Junior Maninoa	New Zealand	N8	14/06/86	Montauban	Pro D2
Peter Saili	New Zealand	N8	04/01/88	Pau	Top 14
Ofisa Treviranus	Samoa	N8	31/03/84	London Irish	Championship	Int'l
Taiasina Tuifua	Samoa	N8	20/08/84	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Vavae Tuilagi	Samoa	N8	15/06/88	Carcassonne	Pro D2	Int'l
Josh Tyrell	New Zealand	N8	16/10/90	Doncaster	Championship	Int'l
Auvasa Faleali'i	New Zealand	SH	09/02/90	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Kahn Fotuali'i	New Zealand	SH	21/05/82	Bath	Premiership	Int'l
Kieron Fonotia	New Zealand	CT	02/02/88	Scarlets	Pro14	Int'l
Rey Lee-Lo	New Zealand	CT	28/02/86	Cardiff Blues	Pro14	Int'l
Johnny Leota	New Zealand	CT	21/01/84	Sale	Premiership	Int'l
Robert Lilomaiava	Samoa	CT	28/03/92	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Tusi Pisi	New Zealand	CT	18/06/82	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Alofa Alofa	Australia	WG	12/03/91	Harlequins	Premiership	Int'l
Ed Fidow	New Zealand	WG	11/09/93	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Alapati Leiua	Samoa	WG	21/09/88	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Tim Nanai-Williams	New Zealand	WG	12/06/89	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Ken Pisi	New Zealand	WG	24/02/89	Northampton	Premiership	Int'l
Sinoti Sinoti	New Zealand	WG	09/09/85	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
David Smith	Samoa	WG	12/10/86	Castres	Top 14	7s
Fa'atoina Autagavaia	Samoa	FB	18/09/88	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
JJ Taulagi	New Zealand	FB	18/06/93	Mont-de-Marsan	Pro D2	Int'l
Ahsee Tuala	New Zealand	FB	23/08/89	Northampton	Premiership	Int'l

 Tahiti (1)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
Makalea Foliaki	Tahiti	WG	24/09/96	Toulon	Top 14	7s
Teiva Jacquelain	Tahiti	WG	22/04/94	Grenoble	Top 14	7s

 Tonga (51)

Name	Trained	Pos.	DOB	Club	League	Cap
David Feao	Australia	LH	10/06/90	Leicester	Premiership	Int'l
Ziggy Fisi'ihoi	Tonga	LH	06/08/87	Stade Français	Top 14	Int'l
Sona Taumalolo	Tonga	LH	13/11/81	Provence	Pro D2	Int'l
Loni Uhila	Tonga	LH	07/04/89	Clermont	Top 14
Sione Anga'aelangi	Australia	HK	07/11/88	Biarritz	Pro D2	Int'l
Paula Ngauamo	New Zealand	HK	19/02/90	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Elvis Taione	Tonga	HK	25/05/83	Exeter	Premiership	Int'l
Halani Aulika	Tonga	TH	31/08/83	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Paea Fa'anunu	New Zealand	TH	04/11/88	Castres	Top 14	Int'l
Sione Faletau	Tonga	TH	20/06/88	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Ma'afu Fia	New Zealand	TH	22/11/89	Ospreys	Pro14	Int'l
Siua Halanukonuka	New Zealand	TH	09/08/86	Glasgow	Pro14	Int'l
Leo Halavatau	Tonga	TH	21/11/83	Angoulême	Pro D2	Int'l
Phil Kite	Australia	TH	24/04/93	Vannes	Pro D2	Int'l
David Lolohea	Australia	TH	26/02/92	Nevers	Pro D2	Int'l
Sila Puafisi	Tonga	TH	15/04/88	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Ben Tameifuna	New Zealand	TH	30/08/91	Racing 92	Top 14	Int'l
Toma Taufa	Tonga	TH	09/03/95	Bayonne	Pro D2
Leva Fifita	Tonga	LK	29/07/89	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Steve Mafi	Australia	LK	09/12/89	Castres	Top 14	Int'l
Sione Timani	Tonga	LK	03/09/84	Colomiers	Pro D2	Int'l
Sitaleki Timani	Tonga	LK	19/09/86	Clermont	Top 14	Int'l
Joe Tu'ineau	New Zealand	LK	18/08/81	Béziers	Pro D2	Int'l
Dan Faleafa	New Zealand	FL	13/02/89	Coventry	Championship	Int'l
Michael Faleafa	New Zealand	FL	03/02/92	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Tanginoa Halaifonua	Tonga	FL	20/09/96	Massy	Pro D2
Onehunga Havili	Tonga	FL	16/02/96	Exeter Chiefs	Premiership	Int'l
Latu Maka'afi	Tonga	FL	17/08/81	Coventry	Championship
Valentino Mapapalangi	New Zealand	FL	18/07/93	Leicester	Premiership	Int'l
Jack Ram	Tonga	FL	14/01/87	Coventry	Championship	Int'l
Lopeti Timani	Tonga	FL	28/09/90	La Rochelle	Top 14	Int'l
Matu Tevi	Tonga	FL	10/04/95	Zebre	Pro14
Opeti Fonua	Tonga	N8	26/05/86	Agen	Top 14	Int'l
Sione Kalamafoni	Tonga	N8	18/05/88	Leicester	Premiership	Int'l
Nasi Manu	New Zealand	N8	15/08/88	Benetton	Pro14	Int'l
Sione Vailanu	Tonga	N8	27/01/95	Saracens	Premiership	Int'l
Ma'ama Vaipulu	New Zealand	N8	21/07/89	Castres	Top 14	Int'l
Tane Takulua	New Zealand	SH	11/01/91	Newcastle	Premiership	Int'l
Kurt Morath	New Zealand	FH	13/11/84	Doncaster	Championship	Int'l
Malakai Fekitoa	Tonga	CT	10/05/92	Toulon	Top 14	Int'l
Viliami Hakalo	Tonga	CT	12/04/87	Saracens	Premiership	Int'l
Willis Halaholo	New Zealand	CT	06/07/90	Cardiff Blues	Pro14
Apakuki Ma'afu	Australia	CT	03/10/87	Jersey	Championship	Int'l
Sione Piukala	Tonga	CT	06/08/85	Perpignan	Top 14	Int'l
Siale Piutau	New Zealand	CT	13/10/85	Bristol	Premiership	Int'l
Alaska Taufa	Tonga	CT	24/07/83	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Nafi Tuitavake	New Zealand	CT	21/01/89	Northampton	Premiership	Int'l
Frank Halai	Tonga	WG	06/03/88	Pau	Top 14	Int'l
David Halaifonua	Tonga	WG	05/07/87	Coventry	Championship	Int'l
Uiki Hu'akau	Tonga	WG	22/09/96	Aurillac	Pro D2
Daniel Kilioni	Tonga	WG	22/02/93	Grenoble	Top 14	Int'l
Vunga Lilo	Tonga	WG	28/02/83	Montauban	Pro D2	Int'l
Afeafe Lokotui	Australia	WG	28/09/97	Worcester	Premiership
Maile Mamao	Tonga	WG	07/01/96	Bayonne	Pro D2
Cooper Vuna	New Zealand	WG	05/07/87	Bath	Premiership	Int'l
Telusa Veainu	New Zealand	FB	26/12/90	Leicester	Premiership	Int'l

Spain lose two homegrown talents to Tier 1 nations in one week

It had looked likely for a while but now it is official. This week Spain lost two homegrown players in lock Lucas Paulos to Argentina and Samu Ezeala to France.

Lucas Paulos (top row third from right) and Samu Ezeala (bottom row on the left) with Spain U18 in 2016

Paulos with Argentina

Paulos was born in Argentina but moved to Spain with his parents at an early age and came through the ranks at CR Majadahonda. He represented Spain at U16 and U18 level and moved to Mont-de-Marsan espoirs in 2015, but at the end of his first season there went back to Argentina along with Iñaki Mateu to try and see if they could make it in Argentina.

Both made a Pumitas training squad, but ultimately only Paulos made it into the full squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in June 2017. Mateu instead returned to represent Spain and made his international debut that June ironically against Argentina XV, whose colours he had been wearing only a few months earlier.

Since then Paulos' reputation has grown after returning to the U20 Championship this year and he has been called up to extended 37 man Pumas training squads. However his eligibility was only officially tied to Argentina this week as he played in the Argentina XV side alongside a few other U20 players in the Americas Pacific Challenge.

Ezeala with France 7s

Also this week Samu Ezeala represented France at 7s in a friendly tournament in Cheshire. Given the nature of the tournament which appears to be mostly a practice run ahead of the World 7s Series, it is unclear whether or not these matches are official enough to tie Ezeala to France, but regardless he was wearing French colours and seems to be viewed as a potential 7s player for them.

Ezeala came through at Barcelona Universitari Club, but after another member at the club Jordi Jorba left to play professionally in France decided he wanted follow, and sent his videos out and got accepted by Clermont in 2015 moving at a very young age. He still represented Spain up to U18 level in 2017 but after starring as part of a French champion Espoirs team and reaching the first team at Clermont set his goal to eventually play on a bigger stage for France.

In August he said whilst his aim was to play for France U20 next year he was not shutting down the possibility of ever playing for Spain. U20s no longer ties eligibility, and he could still play for Los Leones if he didn't reach France at senior level.

That seems to have very quickly gone out of the window now though with his selection to France 7s, which came as a slight surprise both as we making the Clermont first team, and given Bernard Laporte said in 2016 that from now onwards foreign born players would require a French passport. However apparently this doesn't apply to 7s, so he can play for them having only just completed 3 years residency but is still not eligible for 15s selection.

Unlike Paulos though who is a 119kg lock, there does still remain the possibility however remote that Ezeala could still return for Spain via the Olympic qualifying loophole. That switch could only happen in 2024 or 2028 though depending on a 3 year stand down period from representing France.

Spain has very rarely ever had any talents come through their system of the calibre to make a Tier 1 selection (hence why their team has been so reliant on French heritage players). So the loss of two young players within a week is a blow, especially as a player with the size of Paulos is such a rarity in Spanish rugby (although another young player in Alex Gimeno is of similar dimensions), and to lose a special talent like Ezeala so young not even to a full team but to 7s is also disappointing.

[Correction: Ezeala does in fact remain eligible for Spain due to a new ruling that a player under the age of 20 cannot be captured playing 7s. That rule had previously been for players under the age of 18, which saw for example Thretton Palamo play for Samoa 7s aged 17 and then go on to represent the USA. We did not know of this rule change before writing this.]

However the fact they have had this calibre of talent come through is potentially a sign of an improving domestic talent pool of young prospects that was not there before.

For years Spain's local talent base has barely been Rugby Europe Championship worthy. Indeed in 2013 after Regis Sonnes departed and disagreements in the Union led to them leaving out French players in favour of local based talent they tumbled backwards from their best ever finish of 2nd to bottom of the REC. Their coach Bryce Bevin was sacked, and needless to say that refusal to pick French players was short lived. Also prior to Sonnes bringing in many French players, Spain were also relegated from the REC in 2004 and were getting nowhere near a return to the RWC again.

There is still a long way to go, but notably Spain recently produced their best ever U20 side in 2016 which very nearly pulled off a huge shock taking Samoa to extra time in the U20 Trophy final. Had they won that match they would have been the first nation outside of the regular RWC nations to have reached the top 12 in the world at the junior level.

Spanish U18 fly half Eric Guitart is with Toulouse espoirs

Since then the Spanish path back to the U20 Trophy has been blocked by Portugal, who themselves have had success at youth level, notably beating Scotland at U18 in 2015, U20 Trophy runners up in 2017, and this year finished third but were probably in reality the second best team in the tournament giving the U20 Trophy winners Fiji their hardest match.

However Spain's U18 team (several of whom played a year young) finally beat Portugal 17-0 at age grade level this year there is reason to believe that a very decent U20 team could emerge out of that over the next two or three years with a number of those players signing to clubs in France in hope of a professional career. That is notably unlike Portugal whose most talented remain at local clubs.

Biarritz in particular appear to have been actively scouting for talent in Spain. Three players from Madrid Javier Prieto, Gonzalo López, and Nico Rocaries have all played in their Espoirs side this season. The fly half from the U18 team Eric Guitart is part of the Toulouse espoirs squad. Two of that team's most impressive players Joel Merkler (also at Toulouse) and Matheo Triki (La Rochelle) are also at big French clubs. Whilst the standout from the U20 team Tomás Munilla signed for Béziers afterwards and could soon feature for the senior national team.

Spain U18 forwards Joel Merkler and Matheo Triki combine with offloads
to create a break against Portugal in this year's Rugby Europe tournament

Overall there are at least 15+ Spanish players (see table below) in Top 14 or Pro D2 Academies and Espoirs teams right now, most of whom will not be effected by JIFF regulations, and those born after 1998 should form the core of their U20 teams over the next couple of years.

Spanish Espoirs in France
Name	Pos.	Born	From (club/region)	Signed to (club/league)
Lucas Santamaría	LH	2001	CR Liceo Francés (Madrid)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Xabier Solano	LH	2001	Hernani CRE (Basque Country)	Bayonne (Pro D2)
Iker Aduriz	HK	2001	Hernani CRE (Basque Country)	Bayonne (Pro D2)
Juan Carlos Sánchez	HK	2001	(Andalusia)	Racing 92 (Top 14)
Joel Merkler	TH	2001	CR Sant Cugat (Catalonia)	Toulouse (Top 14)
Javier Prieto	TH	1999	CR Liceo Francés (Madrid)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Gorbei Allende	LK	2001	Uni Bilbao (Basque Country)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Alex Gimeno	LK	1997	CAU Rugby Valencia (Valencia)	Béziers (Pro D2)
Hugo Carriere	FL	2001	CRC Pozuelo (Madrid)	Provence (Pro D2)
Matheo Triki	FL	2001	CRC Pozuelo (Madrid)	La Rochelle (Pro D2)
Urko Zumeta	N8	2001	Zarautz Rugby (Basque Country)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Tomás Munilla	SH	1998	Marbella RC (Andalusia)	Béziers (Pro D2)
Eric Guitart	FH	2000	CR Sant Cugat (Catalonia)	Toulouse (Top 14)
Nico Rocaries	FH	2000	CRC Pozuelo (Madrid)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Gonzalo López	CT	2000	Alcobendas Rugby (Madrid)	Biarritz (Pro D2)
Martín Alonso	WG	1999	VRAC (Valladolid)	Clermont (Top 14)
Samu Ezeala	WG	1999	Barcelona UC (Catalonia)	Clermont (Top 14)
Jordi Jorbá	WG	1997	Barcelona UC (Catalonia)	Perpignan (Top 14)
Dario Porta	WG	2001	CR Les Abelles (Valencia)	Béziers (Pro D2)

In addition to that there is also the likes of Andorran full back and Spanish age grade player Pep Arasanz at Exeter's Academy, plus French born Spanish age grade representatives Tommy Vaysset in Béziers and Simón Zubizarreta at Mont-de-Marsan.

Obviously most of those players may not make careers at professional level, but if about even five or six (especially in the key positions of tighthead prop and fly half where it can be very difficult for Tier 2 sides to find capable players) of those careers progress successfully that would put Spain's national team in a far better position going into the 2020's than they have ever been in terms of being able to select more homegrown players as part of a competitive Rugby Europe Championship team alongside the eligible French players.

Only time will tell though, but hopefully even though they are lost to the national team Paulos and Ezeala can be an example (similar to Tim Visser in the Netherlands) of what other players from Spain can achieve at the elite level of the sport moving forwards into the future.

Thoughts on the possibility of an expanded 24 team Rugby World Cup

Recently World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper mentioned that expanding the RWC to 24 teams is a discussion that is now on the table and could possibly happen by 2023 if progress from lower ranked sides against Tier 1 in 2019 is good enough. Here is a look at what that tournament could look like and why whilst any expansion would add some weaker teams it does have some arguments in its favour.

The RWC trophy on tour in Germany

The possible 24 team RWC format

The current RWC format of 4 pools of 5 teams has been criticised as inherently flawed on the basis that the uneven number of teams in each pool will always mean unequal rest periods.

That has been used as an argument for the 24 team RWC, which could come in either two forms, six pools of four under the 1982 FIFA World Cup format, or the 1986-1994 version which was also used for the recent UEFA Euro 2016.

However both those come with issues as well. The problem with the latter is with 16 teams advancing to the second round it turns the pool stage into somewhat of a non-event. The only intrigue in terms of qualifying would be which of the third pool seeds beat the fourth seeds by enough of a margin to get the requisite points difference to progress. Although other matches perhaps could still maybe carry some importance in the context of securing a better passage to the final.

The 1982 FIFA World Cup format creates a little more tension in the pool stages, and removes the unsatisfactory "lucky points difference winner" element of getting through to the next round, however also comes with problems in its second round phase of matches that act to decide the semi finalists.

A second round format of 12 teams split between 4 pools of 3 would revisit the unequal scheduling issue of an uneven numbers in pool, as well as creating the potential for some dead rubbers at a point when the tournament should be approaching its most important stage.

So really none of these formats in either 20 team or a 24 team RWC are perfectly ideal. The 16 team second round is probably the slightly better of the two 24 team options should expansion happen though.

4 team pool much better for all Tier 2 nations

It has been well documented that some Tier 2 nations despite having the least capable to manage from short 3 or 4 day turnarounds between matches with less depth than the biggest nations have got them the most often. There are numerous cases where this has had a notable effect in different ways.

The two biggest upsets at the past two
RWCs has seen a Tier 2 side not reach
the quarter final after failing to win a
match off a short 3 day turnaround

Firstly it has arguably stopped teams reaching the quarter finals. In 2011 Tonga opted to play their strongest team for the tournament opener against New Zealand but then had to play Canada only four days later. They ended up losing that match, so their win later in the tournament against France didn't get them to the quarter finals. It's possible they may have lost that match anyway, but it would have surely helped had they not had to rotate their team for it, whilst the alternative of playing a second string and resting players for the opening match would have kicked the tournament off on a bad note.

Also at that tournament we saw Samoa lose their key match against Wales which they also played off a short turnaround. For that game they had lost two notable starters who took small knocks in their first game against Namibia and may have recovered in a week but not in three days. One of those was particularly crucial in first choice fly half Tusi Pisi, as his replacement Tasesa Lavea had an absolute shocker against Wales. Again it's possible Samoa may not have won anyway, but it would have been different, and they did lead that match past 60 minutes before fading over the last quarter.

Whilst in 2015 we saw Japan's quarter final hopes end against Scotland where they were only 12-10 behind at 45 minutes but faded badly conceding 33 unanswered points over the last 33 minutes. That was especially tough for them as they were not only playing two matches in four days, but two of the top 8 teams within four days, and after such an effort against South Africa it was always going to be tough to have the energy to repeat that again.

We have also seen those turnarounds effect matches in terms of resting players. In previous tournaments Japan had fielded reserves against the big team in their pool in Australia in 2007 and New Zealand in 2011 to rest players for more winnable matches (it's likely most other coaches would have done the same against South Africa in 2015 and we'd have never had that all time classic match).

Some of the most utterly forgettable
RWC matches in recent times such as
Romania vs England in 2011 have been
when Tier 2 teams have fielded second
string sides up against Tier 1 teams

Numerous other teams have done this too. For example Romania fielded reserves against England in 2011, as did the USA against Australia in 2011 and South Africa in 2015 in order to target the next match in three days against a more winnable opponent. In all those cases a match between a Tier 2 nation's second string and a Tier 1 side have been some of the worst and most forgettable of the tournament. Only rarely do you get an exception like Georgia in 2015 who gave a credible effort against New Zealand in spite of resting several players.

Many of those who complain of more blowouts in a 24 team RWC don't understand that whilst there is the potential for that, you would also get the chance to schedule the matches better in a way that reduces some of those sorts of matches as listed above where teams do not put out their best (indeed none of those teams would be likely to still field a second string in any match with points difference playing a role in whether they got to the next round or not).

It also means Tier 2 teams that do achieve an upset a more likely to get to a quarter final from it. In the 24 team format that France vs Tonga result would possibly have come in the last 16 for example.

One less match for the 8 weakest teams also makes sense. It is easier for a team like Namibia for example to put their strongest effort all into three matches. In both the previous RWCs in 2011 and 2015 they have played their best team throughout on a tight schedule and run out of steam by their final match against Wales (especially the second half) or Argentina despite some better earlier efforts. Same also could be said of Uruguay in the second half vs England in 2015, or Georgia vs France in 2007.

Concerns of more blowouts somewhat overblown

As already explained the existing 5 team pool format already lends itself to some larger margins than possible with 4 team pool. Both with matches involving weakened teams like USA vs South Africa 2015 and Romania vs England 2011, or with the weakest team in the tournament Namibia playing their best team on one of the tightest schedules in 2011 and simply having nothing left by the final match.

Any expansion would though obviously be including weaker teams. However the likely four added entrants are not so far off the existing participants that we will necessarily see a return of 12 plus tries conceded in a match. Romania and Spain are the obvious ones who both are ranked in the top 20 teams right now but missing out next year due to eligibility issues.

The next best others are probably one of Brazil, Germany (at least the version not wrecked by political infighting) or Hong Kong who are a step down but with a full two months of preparation should be able to at least match USA's second string effort against South Africa. That admittedly is not particularly great, but the point is that if you account for possibility of reducing those Tier 2 second string matches then there wouldn't be all that many more blowouts in a 24 team competition compared to how many there already are currently in the existing 20 team one as some might expect.

Fiji in 2007 are the only team in the
professional era outside Tier 1 sides to
have reached a RWC quarter final

Really it is the repetitiveness of the quarter final lineup that is more of the problem for the tournament than the bottom end now. In the professional era only Fiji in 2007, who were fortunate enough to run into a Gareth Jenkins coached Wales team, have broken the hold the same 9 Tier 1 sides have had on the last 8 RWC lineup over the professional era. Whilst the list of genuine potential finalists and winners has not exactly increased much over that period either.

Perhaps the strongest argument against a 24 team RWC is that expanding the list of quarter finalists needs to be the focus before expanding the list of qualifiers. Although as also already noted, Samoa and Tonga in 2011, and Japan in 2015 would have had their chances of breaking into that quarter final lineup increased rather than decreased in a evenly pooled 24 team format.

Short term pain for longer term gain

Also we are of course speaking about all this in the present moment. The strongest argument for a 24 team RWC lies in the boost to the sport it would bring to all the new participants over the longer term.

A classic RWC moment that would have
not happened had the RFU won their bid to
host in 2007 and cut the tournament to 16

For some of the most improved Tier 2 sides in World Rugby that progress is likely to have been significantly slower if they had not benefited from the RWC's last expansion to 20 teams.

If the tournament had always remained at 16 and the USA likely missed out on RWC qualification to Canada for the last 20 years would they have been in a position to finally launch a professional domestic league and take a historic Tier 1 scalp against Scotland this year? It's doubtful. It's also unlikely Georgia would have progressed as fast as they have done without the opportunity to make their initial RWC debut in 2003.

That expansion also cut off the opportunity for Rugby League to get ahead of Union in certain territories. No doubt if the USA had spent the past 20 years outside the RWC then the ground may been riper for League to have had a better chance of trying becoming the more dominant code there. Also potentially in parts of Europe too. That is extremely unlikely to happen now though and it is thanks to the expansion in 1999 to 20 teams. Also if one of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga always had to miss out every RWC the sport may have faced difficulty than it has in keeping their interest on Union up against League as well.

Whilst it may have added more blowouts especially over the first two or three editions, that move to 20 was clearly a very wise move in the longer term for the global game. Also as a side note rugby history should look back unfavourably on the blazers at the RFU for campaigning for the RWC to be cut back down to 16 teams in 2007.

Uruguay may have lost all their matches
at RWC 2015 by wide margins but from
that appearance have since progressed
significantly both on and off the field

A more recent example of a nation whose progress has been accelerated by a RWC appearance is Uruguay. They were arguably the weakest team at RWC 2015 and got put in the pool of death, but since then rugby in the country has improved both on and off the field and Los Teros will now arrive at RWC 2019 a far more professional outfit and with new a South American professional domestic league on the horizon in the 2020s.

It is not possible to look precisely into the future, but expansion to 24 would potentially bring similar benefits in terms of accelerating the sport's growth in the beneficiaries of that expansion as well even if they were not all impressive on their debut tournament. Those would notably be nations like Germany, Spain, or Brazil who have all beaten regular RWC nations over this 4 year cycle.

What above all brings most improvement to a nation is is more money and participation in the sport's showpiece event would add much more sponsorship, and interest to reach right back down right to the grassroots of the system. Also of course the participation of more countries and growth in audience in those territories would have the potential to bring more money and sponsorship to World Rugby too which is why the move has been mooted in the first place.

Brazil and Spain are two potential nations
who would benefit from a 24 team RWC

So should the expanded 24 team RWC happen?

Anyone who cares about the sport's global growth should agree an eventual expansion is desirable at some point, but the debate about when the time is right ultimately comes down to personal judgement. However for what it's worth from my personal point of view the pros of the 24 team RWC (a possibly fairer pool format that allows better performance from Tier 2 sides and a significant boost for the sport's growth in new territories) are hard to ignore and outweighs the cons (a dilution of quality with more teams who have no quarter final hopes and a less exciting pool stage where it is harder to get knocked out than get through) and I lean towards that happening as soon as 2023.

However whilst the sport has perhaps found more teams perhaps becoming more competitive amongst the lower ranked sides at the RWC over this cycle and the qualifying campaign (apart from in Africa) has in general been more competitive than 2013/14. The competitiveness of Tier 2 up against Tier 1 (excluding Italy) and the repetitiveness of quarter final lineups remains something that still needs to be improved upon. That is another topic, but the shut door to all the sport's major tournaments outside of the RWC is a problem and expansion is probably more badly needed there than at the RWC.