In just a few days another season of the Top 14 kicks off with the likes of Owen Farrell, Siya Kolisi, Josua Tuisova, and Davit Niniashvili making the numbers of the overseas players ready to make the headlines and wrestle for the title.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has named seven World Cup-winning South Africa internationals in his starting XV to face ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday at the Twickenham Stoop.
World Rugby’s change in eligibility laws in 2022 has opened the door for players with mixed heritage to represent more than one side of their family tree, and every year more players become eligible for a change of national representation.
Edinburgh’s European Challenge Cup campaign began in losing fashion as they went down to a 31-18 defeat against Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Tonga midfielder George Moala will miss three of his country’s Rugby World Cup pool matches after having his appeal against his recent five-match ban dismissed.
The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offending warranted a red card.
A 14-man Tonga side secured a 28-3 rugby victory over Canada, despite losing George Moala to a red card for a dangerous tackle.
Sonatane Takulua went from unfulfilled meat plant worker to Tonga's first 50-cap player.
Remarkably that is the incredible sequence of events which led 23-year-old fly half Pat Pellegrini on a rugby odyssey which may well end up with him playing in a Tonga shirt alongside modern greats Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa at France 2023.