WHAT IT'S LIKE TO...PLAY IN WORLD CUPS FOR TWO NATIONS

We give you the lowdown on stars who have switched country to play

- Alan Dymock

WHEN HE was set to make his first bow for Samoa, Christian Leali’ifano took to Instagram to celebrate. Holding his new jersey in front of him, the 35-year-old Moana Pasifika fly-half posted: What a journey it has been. All the glory to God. JEREMIAH 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The smile on his face tells a story too, while under it, names from the global game like Matt Giteau, Allan Ala’alatoa and Will Genia are buzzing in support. Those three stand out.

Because Leali’ifano has played in a World Cup before. The last one in fact, in Japan. But it wasn’t Samoa he was representing. It was Australia.

The fly-half has made the switch thanks to a recent change in rugby’s eligibility laws. Since January 2022, players who have already been capped have the licence to swap nations if they meet these two criteria: if they have served a stand-down period from international rugby for 36 months, and they were born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that country.

Leali’ifano has 26 caps for the Wallabies but now embarks upon an exciting sojourn, wearing another shirt at the World Cup. In the Samoa squad he is joined by tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina, who has won a World Cup with the All Blacks but who has spent considerable time away from Test rugby playing in France. On bringing such experience into the fold, Samoa boss Seilala Mapusua said: “Having that experience and the rugby IQ is going to be really, really big for our squad as a whole.”