Fijian born rugby players who have represented other countries will now be able to play for their country.
This comes after the International Rugby Board amended the player eligibility rules because of the inclusion of rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the rules stating that to compete for a country you must have that nation’s passport.
According to the IRB Handbook, Regulation 8, any player that has represented a national team, but has a passport for a second country, can switch allegiance during the 2014-15 IRB Sevens World Series if there has been an 18-month period since their last national team appearance.
To become eligible for a second country, the player must apply to switch allegiance, and then turn out for his new country during next season's World Series, which doubles as Olympic qualification.
The player can only debut for his new team once the application is approved, and once the 18-month national team stand-down has passed.
Once a player has made his sevens debut for a new national team in an Olympic event, like the 2014-15 World Series, IRB rules state that the player can then play any form of the game for his new country.
This means that former All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko who are currently playing in Europe can play for the Flying Fijians if they are considered for the World Cup next year.
Rokocoko and Sivivatu last played for the All Blacks in 2011 and both players are in their early 30's.
Vodafone Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan said regulations are there but the interest to represent Fiji should come from the two players and the decision will be made by the national fifteens coach John McKee.
Meanwhile former All Blacks players who will be eligible to play for Samoa inlcude Isaia Toeava, Frank Halai, Sonny Bill Williams and Soseni Anesi.
