Samoa-born Tuilagi eyes Six Nations bow after passport confusion
Samoan-born lock forward Posolo Tuilagi could make his Six Nations debut for France despite not yet holding a French passport, the country's rugby federation said Friday.
His Top 14 side Perpignan had told AFP that the 19-year-old, who featured at the Under-20 World Cup last year, could not play for the senior side until his naturalisation had been settled.
That was a result of a policy introduced by former French Rugby Federation head Bernard Laporte who had "made the political decision to no longer allow foreign players in the national team".
Laporte's seven-year tenure as FFR president ended in January 2023 and with him went the "no foreign player" ruling.
"Players in Posolo Tuilagi's position could not play in the French team because Bernard Laporte had decided so. But it was simply a presidential decision which had not at all been validated in regulations," FFR vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet told AFP.
Under World Rugby rules, a foreign-born player can play for a national team if he has resided in that country for at least five years consecutively and has never played for another international side.
"Therefore no current provision compromises the selection of Mr. Tuilagi or other players in similar situations," said the FFR in a statement.
"If the coach considers that Tuilagi has the necessary skills to represent France, the absence of a French passport will not be an obstacle to his selection."
France coach Fabien Galthie will on Wednesday name his 34-man squad for the Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland which takes place on February 2.
P.Smid--EWJ
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