The British & Irish Lions have named their squad for the 2025 tour of Australia \u2014 and once again, the presence of foreign-born players is ruffling feathers.<\/p>\n
Join the\u00a0RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n Lions icon Willie John McBride \u2014 a man who captained the side to glory in South Africa back in 1974 \u2014 hasn\u2019t held back. The legendary lock, now 84, told South African outlet\u00a0Rapport\u00a0that he\u2019s \u201cbothered\u201d by the number of players in the squad not born in Britain or Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cEight of them weren\u2019t born in Britain or Ireland. That\u2019s not how it was in my day,\u201d McBride said. But here\u2019s the twist: a World Rugby law change may mean McBride\u2019s concerns could soon be outdated.<\/p>\n Residency Rule Extended \u2014 Too Late for This Squad<\/p>\n In 2024, World Rugby quietly extended the eligibility residency requirement from\u00a0three years to five\u00a0\u2014 a significant shift that would have blocked many of the current Lions from ever qualifying.<\/p>\n Had the rule been in place earlier, at least\u00a0five\u00a0players in Andy Farrell\u2019s 2025 squad wouldn\u2019t be wearing red this summer.<\/p>\n That includes Ireland\u2019s Super Rugby quartet \u2014\u00a0Jamison Gibson-Park,\u00a0Bundee Aki,\u00a0James Lowe, and\u00a0Mack Hansen\u2014 all of whom moved to Ireland as adults to play professionally. Only Hansen was already eligible upon arrival. Together, they make up\u00a0half of the foreign-born Lions\u00a0this year.<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s contingent also has a southern flavour.\u00a0Pierre Schoeman,\u00a0Duhan van der Merwe, and\u00a0Sione Tuipulotu\u00a0all qualified via residency or ancestry after arriving from South Africa or Australia. Tuipulotu was eligible via his Scottish grandparent but made the switch after a career in Australia and Japan.<\/p>\n Add in\u00a0Joe McCarthy\u00a0(born in the USA but raised in Dublin) and\u00a0Marcus Smith\u00a0(Philippines-born but a product of the English system), and the total of non-homegrown players hits\u00a0eight\u00a0\u2014 exactly the number McBride takes issue with.<\/p>\n Lions Breakdown: Who\u2019s Representing Who?<\/p>\n Ireland: 15 players (4 foreign-born, all capped through residency or ancestry)<\/p>\n England: 13 players (1 foreign-born: Marcus Smith, but English-raised)<\/p>\n Scotland: 8 players (4 foreign-born, mainly South African imports)<\/p>\n Wales: Just 2 players \u2014 both born and bred in Cymru.<\/p>\n Eligibility Cheatsheet<\/p>\n PlayerTeamBornHomegrown?Eligibility RoutePrevious RepPierre SchoemanScotlandSouth AfricaNoResidency (2021)SA U18, U20Joe McCarthyIrelandUSAYesParent\u2014Jamison Gibson-ParkIrelandNew ZealandNoResidency (2020)NZ M\u0101oriMarcus SmithEnglandPhilippinesYesParent\u2014Bundee AkiIrelandNew ZealandNoResidency (2017)\u2014Huw JonesScotlandScotlandMixedScotland Born\u2014Sione TuipulotuScotlandAustraliaNoGrandparentAus Schools, U20Mack HansenIrelandAustraliaNoParent (Eligible on arrival)Aus U20James LoweIrelandNew ZealandNoResidency (2020)NZ M\u0101oriDuhan van der MerweScotlandSouth AfricaNoResidency (2020)SA Schools, U20<\/p>\n The Bigger Picture<\/p>\n While the Lions are proudly marketed as a showcase of home nations unity, the reality is increasingly global. And for critics like McBride, that change is jarring.<\/p>\n But with stricter eligibility rules now in place, the days of players arriving on a professional deal and qualifying three seasons later may be numbered.<\/p>\n Five Springboks who flopped against Australia in Rugby Championship opener<\/p>\n Entering the match as heavy underdogs, Schmidt\u2019s men flipped the script and blew The Rugby Championship wide open with a performance full of belief, intensity, and precision.<\/p>\n But as the Wallabies soared, several key Springboks faltered. Here are five South African stars who flopped.<\/p>\n MARCO VAN STADEN<\/p>\n FLORUGBY 3\/10:<\/a> \u201cHis combative style is built on pushing breakdown limits, but against the Wallabies, he crossed the line too often. <\/p>\n \u201cPenalised repeatedly, he failed to adapt as Australia grew in confidence. When his pack needed bite in the second half, van Staden\u2019s influence faded badly. Easily one of his poorest outings in green.\u201d<\/p>\n Rugby Pass 5\/10: \u201cLooked lively in the first 20, then forced off for a concussion check. Returned but never rediscovered his edge, conceding penalties and missing tackles.\u201d<\/p>\n The South African 5\/10:<\/a> \u201cAnother one who was solid in the Springboks\u2019 dominant first half, but faded into obscurity in the second, much like most of his teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n
\u201cSixty years ago, you only played if you were a native. It\u2019s changed, and I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s for the better.\u201d<\/p>\n