We nearly did it with Micheal Withers IIRC, didn't we? He was selected for a GB squad on the basis of some alleged Irish grandparantage, but didn't make the XVII & then decided he was a true blue Aussie after all.steds said:Seeing as they borrow aussies all the time, and aussies borrow kiwis back, I'm inclined to agree, but the eligbility rules are there and they had to do it. If they didn't they're more or less saying it's ok to play whomever you want, whatever nationality. I'm pretty sure we'd have enough money to tempt a bloke in a position similar to Schifofske into discovering a long-lost almost pom grandparent.
There's actually no alleged about it, AFAIK. Pretty sure he's played for Ireland since, but yes - 2001 Ashes.BoyBrumby said:We nearly did it with Micheal Withers IIRC, didn't we? He was selected for a GB squad on the basis of some alleged Irish grandparantage, but didn't make the XVII & then decided he was a true blue Aussie after all.
tbf we've played our fair share of Frenchmen over the yearssteds said:There's actually no alleged about it, AFAIK. Pretty sure he's played for Ireland since, but yes - 2001 Ashes.
Only other Aussie I can recall being in a GB squad is Tulsen Tollett in the 96 tour of the Pacific. Think he might well have been one of the 11 sent home when the RFL decided they cost too much. Don't know if he played. Just 2 foreigners, both of whom might not have actually played, is pretty good going when you look at our cricket/union teams. Less southerners aussies, probably, and all.
I'm just saying Carroll should either be allowed to play for either Australia or New Zealand. TBF he isn''t the only one with Ricketson, Tuqiri etc.burkey_1988 said:Don't get me started on all this, Craigos.
I could rant on for pages about this topic. How can Carroll play for both? How can brent Webb or Fien for that matter play for a country they're not even citizens of?Craig said:I'm just saying Carroll should either be allowed to play for either Australia or New Zealand. TBF he isn''t the only one with Ricketson, Tuqiri etc.
Ashley Klown not having balls.BoyBrumby said:How the hell is Mason not off?
Carroll played for NZ in the 2000 World Cup, of which none of the matches were actually classed as Tests (you probably already knew that).BoyBrumby said:They are dodgy, there's no doubt about it. WRT Carroll, he's NZ-born & QLD-raised, isn't he? Qualifies for both. It might be a technicality, but has he ever played tests for NZ? I thought he played for the NZ Super League team that played against NSW & QLD.
I have more of an issue with players like Ricketson, Mason & Tuqiri who all played in the 2000 WC for countries they qualified for on parentage/grandparentage & were subsequently capped in tests for Oz. Makes the sport seem half-arsed.