Potentially eligible players thread

**EalingGreen** · 20/01/2025, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Those rugby examples were all back when the rule was three years residency. It was increased to five years to stop that happening and the change seems to have worked.

The way things are going, I predict that extending the requirement from 3 years to 5 will have no real effect on the incentive for players to switch to their "new" country, since if eg you're a Georgian amateur who is being offered a professional contract in England or France, for financial reasons you'll want to play there as long as you possibly can. The fact of giving up another two years playing for a country which never does anything in world rugby anyway won't cost them to lose too much sleep, I shouldn't think.

While for the big countries who do stand to benefit from such players, it just means that they will try to recruit and get them a work permit as a 20 y.o. rather than a 22 y.o., in recognition of the fact they were never certain to be regularly good enough for their "new" country until they were 25+ anyhow. While his new domestic club gets the benefit of his services earlier than ever.

Which for new country/club/player/old country is Win/Win/Win/Lose.

Or Cynical/Shabby/Understandable/Sickening.

**tetsujin1979** · 20/01/2025, 12:50 PM

The big difference between three and five years is that, if you do decide to switch nationality, you're not going to play in the next world cup, either for your current country or the new one.

Given that international rugby careers are about 12 years, with a few exceptions like Sexton or Healy, that'll mean you only appear at one tournament, and that's if you get selected

For example, say the IRFU decide to offer Georgian winger Davit Niniashvili* a contract to play for Connacht. He's 22 now, and won't be eligible to play for Ireland until January 2030, when he'll be 27, and won't be able to play in the World Cup until the 2031 tournament, when he'll be 29(his birthday is in July, so he'll be 29 for the tournament in September), and he's unlikely to play at the 2025 tournament at 33. Is it really worth it, for both the player and the union?

*I looked up the Georgian squad on wikipedia, and picked someone with the right age profile - I can barely name the Irish starting XV, nevermind other countries

**EalingGreen** · 20/01/2025, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

The big difference between three and five years is that, if you do decide to switch nationality, you're not going to play in the next world cup, either for your current country or the new one.

Given that international rugby careers are about 12 years, with a few exceptions like sexton or Healy, that'll mean you only appear at one tournament, and that's if you get selected

Maybe so. But the benefit of moving from, say, Fiji or Namibia, to a f-t contract in Europe or Australasia are still too good for the player to turn down, even if it may mean he gets one opportunity fewer for a World Cup. While certain up-and-coming countries like USA and Japan may still pick them up instead.

And if 5 years is less attractive to the top tier countries, they can still live with that, esp if the player is being paid by a club, rather than being centrally contracted. I suspect the real barrier is getting work permits for a player in his new country, which isn't really connected to the 3 or 5 year rule.

**tetsujin1979** · 20/01/2025, 1:37 PM

It'll be up to the player what means more to them - the contract or international rugby. Also, the relevant union will have be willing to pay a player that contract for five years before they can play for the union itself. It's a big risk for both parties.

**Eirambler** · 20/01/2025, 2:13 PM

I think almost all players that qualify through the new five year version of that rule will have been recruited to play at club level rather than as potential future internationals. Certainly there may be some that go on to play at international level for their new country, but that has happened many times in football as well. It's different to the old three year rule where players were explicitly recruited by the unions with future international potential in mind.

**Fixer82** · 21/01/2025, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Those rugby examples were all back when the rule was three years residency. It was increased to five years to stop that happening and the change seems to have worked.

The change hasn't worked. It just means players will be signed younger. England have moved whole families over from Pacific Islands to facilitate this.

I've no problem if a kid comes through the rugby system here and plays for us. But my ultimate problem with it all is the cynicism of it and the fact that it only favours the rich rugby nations, of which we are certainly one!

**Eirambler** · 29/01/2025, 4:26 PM

Sonny Perkins, whose dad played for Ireland, has signed on a permanent deal for League 1 Leyton Orient from Leeds. He had been there on loan. Not 100% clear whether he's Ireland eligible or not, would depend how his dad qualified, but might be an option for the next Under 21 campaign if he is. Played for England up to Under 19, but probably won't get a look in with their 21s from League 1. He's a winger/forward.

**Eirambler** · 11/02/2025, 11:04 AM

Could be a three way battle between ourselves, the north and the Brits for this lad!

**seanfhear** · 11/02/2025, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Could be a three way battle between ourselves, the north and the Brits for this lad!

Great name ~ Not Jesse London-Derry Boy anyway !

**Ol� Ol�** · 16/02/2025, 8:23 AM

There's a midfield injury crisis at Manchester United with Mainoo, Ugarte and Collyer missing at least for today's game, on top of Amad Diallo.

It might be mentioned elsewhere but Jack Moorhouse is in the squad and has been training with the first team. He trained with us in 2023 but has been frequently injured since. This seems to be his first proper season so he hasn't really been fit or featuring for another call up.

I don't know the Irish connection and how strong it is. Featuring for MUFC draws England FA focus if it comes to pass.

Interestingly, I read a report on United's youth cup game during the week against Chelsea. Jacob Devaney was midfield and captain and apparently had a very good game. He isn't 18 until June so fits nicely with our 19s for now but will be interesting to see if he can push on.

**Eirambler** · 27/02/2025, 2:06 PM

According to balls.ie (I know) Louie Barry has completed the paperwork to switch to Ireland. After banging them in for Stockport in League 1 he's had a more muted start to life in the Championship with Hull. He's also now overage for our Under 21s.

In a further caveat the same article picks out Marcus McGuane as a potential future switcher to Ireland, even though I'm 99.9999% certain he's ineligible to play for us as he has already undertaken a formal switch (from Ireland to England some years ago).

**pineapple stu** · 27/02/2025, 2:15 PM

He's actually left Hull - returning back to Villa due to an injury picked up at the weekend.

**elatedscum** · 27/02/2025, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

According to balls.ie (I know) Louie Barry has completed the paperwork to switch to Ireland. After banging them in for Stockport in League 1 he's had a more muted start to life in the Championship with Hull. He's also now overage for our Under 21s.

In a further caveat the same article picks out Marcus McGuane as a potential future switcher to Ireland, even though I'm 99.9999% certain he's ineligible to play for us as he has already undertaken a formal switch (from Ireland to England some years ago).

nothing on the portal yet. https://knowledge.fifa.com/change-of...ation-platform

i remember Louie describing (on instagram) playing for his grandfather for the u16s (i think in his grandfather's hometown in kerry) as the proudest moment of his life and giving him his irish jersey after it (think it was his grandfather's birthday). his grandfather died a few years after that. then posted something then about 'maybe one day he'll look down on me wearing an irish shirt' or something like that.

great to hear he's changed if true. a really good footballer. no idea how good he'll end up being but he still has a chance to be an excellent player

**Ol� Ol�** · 27/02/2025, 4:01 PM

http://www.balls.ie/football/five-ir...in-2025-623523

This is the article. Writer seems to think Louie Barry and Jack Moorhouse are processing paperwork to play for Ireland.

**elatedscum** · 27/02/2025, 5:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ol� Ol�

www.balls.ie/football/five-irish-eligble-players-that-could-represent-ireland-in-2025-623523

This is the article. Writer seems to think Louie Barry and Jack Moorhouse are processing paperwork to play for Ireland.

They'd obviously be quite different. Moorhouse would just need to sort a passport, which can be easy or hard depending on his situation. Louie Barry would need to go through an association switch, which can take between three weeks and six months under normal circumstances, where the FA are playing ball. I think it took Michael Duffy two and and a half years or something (checked: August 2018-February 2021), because the IFA just refused to handle their end of it until FIFA forced them to.

**Eirambler** · 27/02/2025, 11:10 PM

Would Barry's situation not be exactly the same as Moorhouse's, since he has never actually played a competitive game at any age level for England? He has somehow managed to play over 20 times for them without ever playing a competitive game - COVID will have contributed there I suspect.

**liamoo11** · 27/02/2025, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Would Barry's situation not be exactly the same as Moorhouse's, since he has never actually played a competitive game at any age level for England? He has somehow managed to play over 20 times for them without ever playing a competitive game - COVID will have contributed there I suspect.

That's unreal great spot.

**tetsujin1979** · 27/02/2025, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

According to balls.ie (I know) Louie Barry has completed the paperwork to switch to Ireland. After banging them in for Stockport in League 1 he's had a more muted start to life in the Championship with Hull. He's also now overage for our Under 21s.

In a further caveat the same article picks out Marcus McGuane as a potential future switcher to Ireland, even though I'm 99.9999% certain he's ineligible to play for us as he has already undertaken a formal switch (from Ireland to England some years ago).

McGuane has definitely played competitive internationals for Ireland and England at underage level