20 Aug 2015

World Rugby to look at residency rule

1:59 pm on 20 August 2015

The head of World Rugby has confirmed the sport's international residency rule is being reviewed.

Under current regulations, players who have yet to make an international appearance can play for a country after having lived there for three years.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

But World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper and president Bernard Lapasset believe it is time for a review.

Gosper told the BBC they're doing a consultation with the unions to determine what their view is.

"What we are going to do is look at it. Certainly Bernard Lapasset feels it is something that needs to be looked at and I think I share his view."

A number of recent All Blacks were born in the Pacific but were able to play for New Zealand because of the lenght of time they had lived in New Zealand.

Malakai Fekitoa was born in Tonga and moved New Zealand six years ago to attend Wesley College on a rugby scholarship.

All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and TJ Perenara celebrate 2014 Bledisloe Cup success.

All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and TJ Perenara celebrate 2014 Bledisloe Cup success. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

In Britain, players to have recently played or qualified to play Test rugby after playing for three years in a different country to their place of birth include Jared Payne, Scott Spedding, Rory Kockott, Josh Strauss, WP Nel, Henry Speight, Uini Atonio, Bernard Le Roux, Noa Nakaitaci, Samuela Vunisa, Kelly Haimona and Tim Visser.

"What we are going to do is look at it. Certainly Bernard Lapasset feels it is something that needs to be looked at and I think I share his view." said Gosper.

"The integrity of the international game is important, there is a lot of player movement internationally, and we just need to take stock. Is this the right rule now? We will come to an answer on that.

"I don't want to speculate on an outcome, but I think it's good we are looking at it.

"Things have moved on since the last time we have looked at it, and there just maybe a different decision on it than there was last time."