Mark Smith: Olympic loophole set to cause rugby eligibility scramble

Rugby’s international eligibility regulations have long been a laughing stock, but are sinking to new lows thanks to the Olympic Games.

The upshot of rugby sevens’ introduction into the Olympic family in Rio 2016 is that players capped by one country can now represent another, and they are already queuing up to do it.

As things stood up until this new loophole was revealed, any player capped by a country at full international, B international or international sevens level could not go on to represent another nation.

For example Scott Wilson’s appearance for England Saxons earlier this year meant Scotland’s advances for the Melrose-born Newcastle Falcons man were at an end – but in theory he could now change his mind and don the thistle rather than the rose.

Flimsy residency criteria have long meant players can turn out for any country after just three years of living there, and no nation can claim the moral high ground because everybody has been at it.

Once you had picked your horse you were locked in for life. Not any more.

So long as you hold a passport for the country you want to play for and have not played international rugby for 18 months, it does not matter if you have already represented another nation.

You can play for your new country in the Olympic Sevens, and from there you can carry on representing that nation in any form of the game.

That means Toulon’s Steffon Armitage could turn out for France despite having been capped five times by England, New Zealand’s Joe Rokocoko could play for Fiji despite having 68 All Black tests and George Smith could play for Tonga even after making 111 appearances for Australia.

To qualify they have to apply to the International Rugby Board, and turn out for their ‘new’ country during the 2014-15 IRB Sevens Series.

The IRB could be forgiven for being uncomfortable with the laxity of the new regulations, but they have no say in the matter given their long-running campaign to get Olympic recognition for rugby sevens.

That particular battle has finally been won, but at what cost?

The IRB have essentially had to dance to the International Olympic Committee’s tune when it comes to eligibility – a perennial minefield which arouses strong emotions on both sides of the debate.

Chief beneficiaries of rugby’s Olympic loophole appear to be the Pacific islands, which have long been ripe for the picking by New Zealand and Australia. Once capped by the Antipodean superpowers those players were unable to turn back and represent their homelands, and you can hardly criticise Samoa for jumping at the chance to field Sonny Bill Williams or Isa Toeava.

The upshot of it all is that international eligibility is about as clear as mud, and the days of players representing multiple nations are here again.

The success of sevens at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow showed how the sport can shine at a major multi-sport gathering, but weekends like that come with serious strings attached now.

Mark Smith: Olympic loophole set to cause rugby eligibility scramble