In an interview with the Mail Online, front-rower Patrick Schickerling disclosed that he is eligible to represent England based on his residency.
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The 24-year-old emerging talent has made a significant impact for the Chiefs and caught the attention of Eddie Jones, who called him up at the conclusion of the previous season.
Schickerling had a brief appearance as a replacement in a match against the Barbarians, but unfortunately, he had to exit the game due to a head injury. Subsequently, he was included in the squad for the tour of Australia; however, he did not have the opportunity to make his Test debut.
However, it has now come to light that Schickerling did not meet the residency requirements as previously believed by both the player himself and the RFU. Rugby scribe Bryan Ray was the first to unveil this revelation.
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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Directly from Regulation 8:
"The sixty-month residency requirement comes into effect after the cut-off date of December 31, 2021."
world.rugby/organisation/g…
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.