Pacific Island teams can become powerhouses

Ex-Wallaby Israel Folau can play for Tonga from 2022 after parting ways with Rugby Australia two years ago. Photo:

The likes of former All Black Charles Piutau and ex-Wallaby Israel Folau can play for Tonga from 2022 after a groundbreaking World Rugby council vote last month.

The council voted to amend World Rugby’s eligibility rules to allow players to change Test teams during their career after a three-year stand-down period and providing they have “a genuine, close, credible and established national link” to the country they now wish to represent (such as having a parent or grandparent who was born there). Under the previous regulations, a Test player could only change allegiance through an unintended Olympic sevens loophole.

Piutau confirms switch to play for Tonga

Charles Piutau has been playing for the Bristol Bears for the past five years. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand’s Charles Piutau said he had “two countries close to his heart” after confirming his intention to switch nationality to represent Tonga.

Piutau, who was born in Auckland and won 17 caps for the All Blacks, is a high-profile beneficiary of a major change to rugby union’s international eligibility rules.