Lopeti Timani, the former Australia international who will make his debut for Tonga at Twickenham today, has urged World Rugby to make it easier for players to represent a second national team.
World Rugby will meet on November 24 to vote on a proposal that would permit players to switch allegiance once in their careers and help boost the standard of the three Pacific island nations.
At present, the only avenue for a player to switch allegiance is to participate in an Olympics sevens event after a three-year stand-down period from international rugby.
At 18st 4lb, Timani is not built for sevens but the La Rochelle loose forward and Malakai Fekitoa, the former All Blacks centre, played a tournament in Monaco this summer to requalify for Tonga.
Charles Piutau, who won 17 caps for New Zealand, has expressed an interest in representing Tonga and might have joined them but the event clashed with Bristol Bears playing in the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.
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If the proposal is voted through later this month, it would make the process a lot easier. Tonga’s World Cup back line could suddenly include Piutau, Fekitoa and Israel Folau, the former Wallabies full back.
“It is not fair. It should be easy for a player to go back and play for where they come from and not wait three or four years,” Timani said. “It is important for us as Tonga. Our best players are [tied] to different countries at the moment [through Test rugby and sevens].
“It would be exciting for Tonga rugby to get our players back. We have a lot of players from Australia and New Zealand who are waiting for an opportunity to join this Tongan squad.”
Timani has played at Twickenham three times for Australia, defeating Argentina but losing to England in 2016 and 2017. The Tonga players will earn £500 for today’s game; the England players £23,000.
“When I pulled on that jersey for Australia it was emotional and exciting but it is different when you pull on the jersey for the culture and the country you grew up in. It is hard to say. You want to give everything,” Timani said.
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“It is not all about the money. You are representing your family and your wife and kids. It is not about getting paid, it is about the culture you come from.”
It used to be easier to represent multiple nations. Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, who won caps for New Zealand and Samoa, supports the plan. “It would be awesome,” he said. “There are so many Pacific islanders who are tied [to other nations] who could go back. You ultimately want the best rugby players playing.”
Today’s Tonga side includes Ben Tameifuna, the 23st tighthead prop who was born in Auckland and played for New Zealand Under-20s ten years ago.
Not everyone agrees with a change. Billy and Mako Vunipola have both said they do not believe it would be right to turn out for Tonga once their England careers are over. “If I go back and play for Tonga, I am stopping an opportunity for a player whose only goal was to play for Tonga. I don’t think that’s right,” Billy Vunipola said last year when this proposal began to gain traction.