RWC stars find home away from home

Glasgow's Josh Strauss and Ulster's Andrew Trimble (left) during the RaboDirect PRO12 League match at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.

Glasgow's Josh Strauss and Ulster's Andrew Trimble (left) during the RaboDirect PRO12 League match at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.

Published Sep 23, 2015

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Cape Town - World Cups are undoubtedly a time for patriotism, but in the ever-evolving world of sport, it has become increasingly prevalent for players to represent their adopted countries, rather than the country of their birth.

Never before has this phenomenon been more apparent than at Rugby World Cup 2015.

With its vast population, rich rugby heritage and apparent glut of potential players worthy of national selection, South Africa has its own cohort of expats now plying their trade in other countries’ national colours – 15 at this World Cup representing 10 countries other than South Africa.

Considering all nationalities participating in the England showpiece,only 20 flags are flying but 33 countries are represented.

The only nation among the 20 teams vying for the Webb Ellis trophy that features a squad made up entirely of native-born players is Argentina.

Samoa has the largest number of foreign-born players in its 31-man squad, with 12 New Zealanders representing the Pacific island by virtue of one of their parents having been Samoan.

Players at the 2015 tournament representing countries other than those of their birth also do not always do so as a result of ancestry. A number of them have become eligible for selection as a result of their residency – like Tendai Mtawarira, the Zimbabwean-born eighthman-turned-prop who earned residency in 2008. Mtawarira is the only foreign-born player in the Springbok squad.

The man with the golden beard, Josh Strauss, who bravely captained Gauteng sides the Lions in Super Rugby and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, has turned Scottish. His beard gained a cult following at Ellis Park and has survived the sojourn to Scotland for whom he is expected to debut against the Bok-beating Japanese later today. Strauss became eligible to join fellow South African WP Nel in the Scottish squad last Sunday.

“Culturally, it would be tough to change completely,” the loose forward told the Daily Mail in the UK, “but I recently bought a house in Glasgow and my daughter Sadie-Lee was born there so I’m pretty much as Scottish as you can be – except for the accent, of course.”

France boasts three South Africans in its 10-strong foreign legion – Bernard le Roux, Scott Spedding and former Sharks half-back Rory Kockott. Spedding became eligible in 2011, Le Roux in 2012 and Kockott last year, all by virtue of residency. The France squad features a number of Africans; captain Thierry Dusautoir is Ivorian, running out alongside fellow Les Bleus players from DRC, Burkina Faso and Algeria.

Italy’s squad contains two lesser-known South Africans – Dario Chistolini and Quintin Geldenhuys.

Former Sharks centre Brad Barritt made his debut for hosts England in 2012 – eligible by way of an English grandparent. He is one of three foreign-born players in the England squad.

Niku Kruger will turn out for the US; he is one of nine foreign-born US squad members. DTH van der Merwe is in Canada’s World Cup squad, after obtaining residency in 2006.

Under-19 Rugby World Championship winner with South Africa in 2005, Richardt Strauss, dons the green of the Emerald Isle after making his debut for Ireland in 2012, incidentally scrumming down against his cousin, Springbok Adriaan Strauss that same year.

Kotaro Matsushima, representing Japan, was born in Pretoria before moving to Japan to finish his schooling. He would later turn out for the Sharks, scoring tries in the 2013 Vodacom Cup.

Johannes van Heerden plays his international rugby for Romania – this is the first time naturalised players feature in its World Cup squad.

Finally, Namibia’s two South Africans make up the 15 Saffers doing duty for other countries at Rugby World Cup 2015.

Louis van der Westhuizen and Renaldo Bothma play their rugby for the Welwitschias – fair trade considering one of the most-capped Springboks in history, Percy Montgomery, is in fact Namibian.

South African-born players represent 10 nations other than South Africa, with New Zealand, Australia and England making up the rest of the bulk of the exports.

Zimbabwe has players representing four different countries – more than any other non-competing nation.

 

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Cape Argus

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