Fans still can't believe Eddie Jones called up a player who didn't even qualify for England
Rugby NewsFriday, 13 January 2023 at 08:27
In an interview with the Mail Online, front-rower, Patrick Schickerling revealed he's eligible to represent England based on residency.
The young player, who is 24 years old, has made a significant impact for the Chiefs and was called up by Eddie Jones at the end of the last season.
He came on as a replacement in a game against the Barbarians, but had to leave the game due to a head injury. He was then included in the squad for the tour of Australia, but did not make his Test debut.
It is now clear that the player did not meet the residency requirements as was previously thought by both the player and the RFU.
It was rugby scribe Bryan Ray revealed he's wasn't.
The Exeter Chiefs star claimed in the interview that: "When I arrived in England in 2018, the rule was that you are eligible to play after three years of residency... Two months later, the rule went up to five years.
"I was living in the UK for three years straight and I couldn’t go home because of Covid. That’s why!"
Ray wrote in an interesting Twitter thread:
"November 2018 arrival would put him on track to qualify under the three-year residency rule in November of 2021. The consecutive residency rule, which falls under World Rugby's Regulation 8, was then extended to five years effective January 1, 2022."
"Schickerling assumes that because he reached the three-year mark before the change, his eligibility carried over. It does not."
"In order for Schickerling to keep his England eligibility, he had to have played for England or England 'A' between qualifying in November of 2021 and January 1, 2022. He did not."
Ray concludes by saying: "That means Schickerling falls under the five-year rule. He won't qualify for England until November of 2023, but remains eligible to represent Namibia."
No action will be taken by World Rugby as he is still uncapped and is not ‘captured’ by England. This follows the decision to throw Spain out of next year’s World Cup after they fielded an ineligible player during their successful qualifying campaign.
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Five England stars who could still swap nations before the 2023 World Cup
They could all swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
- Age: 31
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 20
- Last cap: March, 2019
- Did you know? His uncle, Asaeli Hughes, is a former dual international having represented Fiji in both basketball and 15s rugby
Hughes, who grew up in the sugar cane town of Lautoka on the west coast of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu, has. revealed that he has full support from the RFU to swap nations after moving to Japan.
Gallagher Man of the Match Nathan Hughes of Bath Rugby on his Bath Rugby debut during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on 28 Jan. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#2. Alex Lozowski (England to Italy)
- Age: 28
- Position: Fly-half, Centre, Wing, Fullback
- Current number of caps: 5
- Last cap: November, 2018
- Did you know? Lozowski is the son of Rob Lozowski and was a sporting allrounder in his teenage years, playing not only rugby for the Wasps academy but also football for the Chelsea academy
'I feel an English bloke. At the moment that is where my loyalties lie, even if I'm not going to get picked," said Lozowski.
Alex Lozowski of England commits a tackle during the Quilter International Match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on 17th November 2018. [Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK]
"That might not make sense to some people because they might think if I'm not getting picked for England, I may as well go and play for Italy. But I'm the type of player who needs to be all in to play for a team. At this stage of my career, I'm still passionately English.
'Eddie Jones said it's up to me which at the end of the day it is. If I hadn't played for England then maybe I wouldn't feel as English as I do. Because I have, I have that attachment.'
'I always thought when I was growing up that it was peculiar you could play for more than one country. If I'm honest about it, my grandmother was Italian, but I've never lived in Italy.
"Potentially that got me considered for the squad, but sometimes being on standby is worse than being completely forgotten about!'
#3. Denny Solomona (England to Fiji)
- Age: 28
- Position: Winger
- Current number of caps: 5
- Last cap: June, 2018
- Did you know? Solomona feels that meeting senior players can be important for the motivation and development of school age players.
After leaving Sale Sharks, Solomona has revealed that theRFU are in full support of him representing Fiji in the future.
#4. Danny Cipriani (England to Trinidad & Tobago)
- Age: 34
- Position: Fly-half
- Current number of caps: 16
- Last cap: June, 2018
- Did you know? A keen all-round sportsman, Cipriani played junior football for Queens Park Rangers and was offered youth terms by Reading
It’s been suggested that the switch could be funded by World Rugby, who are looking to encourage former elite rugby players to represent third tier nations to help raise the sports profile in that country.
Cipriani has been heavily linked with a move to Major League Rugby in the USA after the fly-half confirmed he will be heading 'to a new country' following his departure from Bath at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old’s father is Afro-Trinidadian with some Italian heritage while his mother is English. They’re currently ranked 53rd in the world.
Bath Rugby player Danny Cipriani during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Nov 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#5. George McGuigan (England Saxons to Ireland)
- Age: 29
- Position: Hooker
- Current number of caps: 2
- Last cap: June, 2016
- Did you know? McGuigan represented Ireland U18 and U20 before switching his allegiance to England
The 28-year-old, who is the second top try-scorer in the Gallagher Premiership with 14, continues to be overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones. Munster, who want to strengthen their hooking options, are now reportedly keeping tabs on the Gloucester ace according to The Rugby Paper.
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