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Regarded as one of the most talented backs in world rugby, Charles Piutau was widely expected to go on and win many more All Blacks caps than his current tally of sixteen.
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Having signed for Bristol next season, Piutau will enjoy the tag of being the highest paid player in world rugby, yet is ineligible to play test rugby, due to All Black eligibility rules that prevent anyone playing offshore from selection.
However, there is a loophole in World Rugby’s eligibility laws, that could see the 26-year-old represent Tonga, his country of heritage at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Piutau will need to represent their sevens side in either their Olympic qualifying schedule or at the 2018/2019 World Series.
Should this come to fruition the utility back would become eligible to represent Tonga’s fifteen aside team, a loophole that Tim Nanai-Williams has utilised to represent Manu Samoa.
In an interview with RadioLIVE, Piutau confessed that the switch was something that had been on his mind for some time and is confident the switch will materialise.
“At the moment, if all my clubs that I’m with currently are happy, and the Tongan union and all different parties are happy, then I will be more than happy to,” said Piutau.
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“I was born in New Zealand but both my parents are born in Tonga, and I have a strong connection and ties to the culture and for Tonga as well, so it feels like I’m just as much as I’m a Kiwi.”
“I feel equally Tongan because of my upbringing.”
“The Tongan coach had approached me, and it was something I thought of even before he had approached me.”
He is also optimistic that players who find themselves in a similar situation will follow his lead, to help growth of the game in the Pacific Islands and to give back to their countries of heritage.
“It’s beyond the individual and seeing the benefits what it can do for second-tier countries,” said Piutau.
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“For me it’s maybe just revisiting the rules that we have at the moment and really seeing the benefit of players that are no longer playing international rugby that are overseas being able to help out the tier-two nations.
“Having seen what it’s done for the World Cup in the league, I think that speaks for itself and how much it had helped their sport.”
Piutau is however also conscious that the loophole doesn’t become abused.
“When players do get involved they’ll see the benefits of not only being there from a World Cup perspective, or during that season, but during the other tours, during the other years,” he said.
“The tier-two nations need it more and I guess in way too you don’t want too many switches between countries.”
