Foreign-Born Players in 2019 Six Nations

Six Nations

by Steven Smith

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 at 15:26

bySteven Smith

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The hot topic of foreign-born players returns. The upcoming 2019 Six Nations Championship will see the finest European teams battling it out in the annual competition.

The topic in question is hugely popular as people both criticize and defend the use of players from abroad.

All told, the 2019 Six Nations will have a grand total of 18 nations represented. The Americas contributes to this list through Argentina, Canada, and the USA.

Here is the full breakdown:

WALES - SEVEN PLAYERS

The Welsh roster for the 2016 Six Nations tournament included 13 foreign-born players, in 2017 it was 10 and in 2018 it was nine. Another decrease this year with the number falling to seven.

Ross Moriarty - England
Tomas Francis - England
George North - England
Jonah Holmes - England
Hallam Amos - England
Hadleigh Parkes - New Zealand
Gareth Anscombe - New Zealand

ITALY - NINE PLAYERS

Dean Budd - New Zealand
Jayden Hayward - New Zealand
Ian McKinley - Ireland
Sebastian Negri - Zimbabwe
Sergio Parisse - Argentina
Braam Steyn - South Africa
David Sisi - Germany/England
Cherif Traore - Guinea
Jimmy Tuivaiti - New Zealand

IRELAND - SEVEN PLAYERS

CJ Stander and Bundee Aki were both officially targeted by Ireland as uncapped in their native countries who could play for Ireland. The overall number of foreign-born players has increased from six in the 2017 Six Nations to nine for the 2018 tournament. This year it's down to seven.

Bundee Aki - New Zealand
Ultan Dillane - France
Quinn Roux - South Africa
Jordi Murphy - Spain
Will Addison - England
CJ Stander - South Africa
Joey Carbery - New Zealand

ENGLAND - EIGHT PLAYERS

Former Head Coach Stuart Lancaster had three foreign born players on his World Cup roster. Eddie Jones immediately made personal changes in 2016 and this has continued into 2019...

Mako Vunipola - New Zealand
Billy Vunipola - Australia
Jack Clifford - Australia
Nathan Hughes - Fiji
Brad Shields - New Zealand
Manu Tuilagi - Samoa
Ben Te'o - New Zealand
Joe Cokanasiga - Fiji

Manu Tuilagi of England arriving before the Six Nations Championship match, between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, London , UK, on the 12th March 2016.- Photo mandatory by-line: Dean Lancaster/Pinnacle - Tel +44(0) 1363 881025 - Mobile 0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 12/03/2016 - SPORT - RUGBY - RBS Six Nations Championship - England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, London, UK.

SCOTLAND - 16 PLAYERS

The country with the most foreign-born players in the 2019 Six Nations is Scotland again. Their overall number is down, thanks mainly to injuries which have ruled John Barclay, Hamish Watson, David Denton, etc from their latest squad.

Alex Allan - England
Simon Berghan - New Zealand
Allan Dell - South Africa
WP Nel - South Africa
Sam Skinner - England
Tim Swinson - England
Ben Toolis - Australia
Rob Harley - England
Josh Strauss - South Africa
Ryan Wilson - England
Ali Price - England
Nick Grigg - New Zealand
Chris Harris - England
Sam Johnson - Australia
Sean Maitland - New Zealand
Tommy Seymour - USA

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 10: Sean Maitland of Scotland looks to break with the ball during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Samoa and Scotland at St James' Park on October 10, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)