Potentially eligible players thread

**elatedscum** · 12/03/2021, 2:56 PM

Originally Posted by John83

.
The rubgy crowd have attracted a few that way. The difference is that they have relatively wealthy league teams who can attract and retain players of the required standard.

Also, you are (or were) able to cap someone in rugby before they got their passport. You just needed 3 years of residency. Rather than the 5 you’d need to normally be naturalised.

**tetsujin1979** · 12/03/2021, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Also, you are (or were) able to cap someone in rugby before they got their passport. You just needed 3 years of residency. Rather than the 5 you’d need to normally be naturalised.

The rule was extended to five years in 2017, and was supposed to come into effect on New Year's Day this year, but has been delayed until the end of the year: https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/r...delayed/629005

**RiffRaff** · 12/03/2021, 6:18 PM

Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

Not sure in which thread to pose this question, but here goes: Who was the last player to qualify and play for the Republic of Ireland on the basis of naturalisation rather than eligible by descent?

Peter Thomas is the only example i can think of. There was talk of Dundalk goalie Richie Blackmore getting Irish citizenship in the late 70's when we had only 3 or 4 goalie's on the books of full time clubs but it never happened

**Fizzer** · 13/03/2021, 2:48 PM

Conor Wickham is on the bench today for Palace, still only 27, a talented forward but made of glass....so he’d fit right in.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/03/2021, 10:55 AM

Conor Gallagher named in England's U21 squad for the European Championships: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/mar/...stage-20210315

**Eirambler** · 15/03/2021, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Conor Gallagher named in England's U21 squad for the European Championships: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/mar/...stage-20210315

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

I'd say there are a few dual nationals in that squad that will be tied to England after the tournament that will probably never go on to have much of a senior international career as a result (unless the rules are changed yet again).

Incidentally is there a single player in that under 21 squad that wouldn't currently make our senior squad if eligible and interested?

**Olé Olé** · 15/03/2021, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

Incidentally is there a single player in that under 21 squad that wouldn't currently make our senior squad if eligible and interested?

Josh Griffiths on loan at Cheltenham Town maybe? That's about it though!

Ben Wilmot is in there and is also eligible for Ireland and was close to declaring until he got an England call a few years back.

**ColourfulPeanut** · 15/03/2021, 2:54 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

He is 21 now, so I'm fairly sure that means that if he makes an appearance at the tournament he will then be eligible for England only.

I'd say there are a few dual nationals in that squad that will be tied to England after the tournament that will probably never go on to have much of a senior international career as a result (unless the rules are changed yet again).

Is that rule any international appearance over the age of 21 or just senior appearance? I could have sworn the 21 year old thing was related to senior internationals?

**Bielsa´s irish** · 15/03/2021, 3:07 PM

senior apparences I believe it was Munir case

**Eirambler** · 15/03/2021, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by ColourfulPeanut

Is that rule any international appearance over the age of 21 or just senior appearance? I could have sworn the 21 year old thing was related to senior internationals?

I believe it covers competitive games at underage level as well. Because most underage competitions are for players younger than 21 it only really comes in to play for Under 21 qualifiers and finals games. There was a clarification that it wouldn't be backdated before last September but for games from now on it applies.

**CraftyToePoke** · 16/03/2021, 1:03 PM

Christy Pym / Peterborough United / 25 / Keeper

- https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football...f-ireland/amp/

**Olé Olé** · 16/03/2021, 2:40 PM

Che Adams has declared for Scotland. Qualifies through a maternal grandparent. A good coup for them. He's a way off the England squad at present but he's young and has shown flashes this season.

**Diggs246** · 16/03/2021, 3:15 PM

Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Che Adams has declared for Scotland. Qualifies through a maternal grandparent. A good coup for them. He's a way off the England squad at present but he's young and has shown flashes this season.

yep, he is a coup for them and no coincidence they just qualified for a major tournament

**seanfhear** · 16/03/2021, 3:21 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

yep, he is a coup for them and no coincidence they just qualified for a major tournament

That does seem to make a big difference to these young players.

**CraftyToePoke** · 16/03/2021, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

yep, he is a coup for them and no coincidence they just qualified for a major tournament

Exactly, he turned them down in 2017, when he was miles off any England radar but he's currently scoring goals in the top division. Like Wilson or Bamford a little. He turned down Antigua, his father's country. Scotland make a finals, and through one grandparent he's digging out the kilt.

**Eirambler** · 16/03/2021, 10:03 PM

Given their fans' treatment of McGeady in Celtic Park a few years ago I assume the Scotland support will now be turning their back on the national team and will no longer have any interest in the Euros this summer in light of the Adams callup.

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/03/2021, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Given their fans' treatment of McGeady in Celtic Park a few years ago I assume the Scotland support will now be turning their back on the national team and will no longer have any interest in the Euros this summer in light of the Adams callup.

Ah look, would we be any different with Rice or Grealish? I doubt it.

**Eirambler** · 17/03/2021, 7:01 AM

In fairness that's different. Both of those actually played for us and then walked away. McGeady nailed his colours to the mast at a young age and still got dogs abuse for it in Scotland. It would be more the equivalent of us abusing Dennis Cirkin if he ever turned up playing for England - which just wouldn't happen.

**DeLorean** · 17/03/2021, 7:37 AM

Cirkin's Irish link is a pretty tenuous one, not remotely comparable to McGeady and McCarthy's 'Scottishness' imo, nevermind being an equivilant situation.

I think the reaction to Grealish especially is far more comparable to those even though they didn't play underage for Scotland, particularly given the hundreds of players we've benefitted from taking the other way around.

Not justifying the abuse McGeady/McCarthy got of course, but given their ability and Scotland's deficiencies at the time, it was bound to be a bit galling for them. Plus Ireland isn't exactly loved in certain quarters up there, so any excuse.