Ireland international John Cooney could switch allegiance to Scotland before the 2023 Rugby World Cup, according to Extra.IE.
The 32-year-old has Scottish roots through his Glaswegian father and spurned an offer to switch allegiances in 2012 before making his Ireland debut in 2017.
His father, John Cooney senior, who was born in Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, was a journalist who worked for the Glasgow Herald before becoming European correspondent, and later religious affairs correspondent, for The Irish Times
Cooney won the last of his 11 Ireland caps came in February 2020 against England, which means he’d be eligible to make the swap next February.
Players can switch nations if they have been stood down from international rugby for three years and they, or a parent or grandparent, were born in the country they wish to represent.
DID YOU KNOW? He is the first player to play over 20 games for three different Irish province (Connacht, Leinster, Ulster)
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Five England stars who could still swap nations before the 2023 World Cup
They could all swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
- Age: 31
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 20
- Last cap: March, 2019
- Did you know? His uncle, Asaeli Hughes, is a former dual international having represented Fiji in both basketball and 15s rugby
Hughes, who grew up in the sugar cane town of Lautoka on the west coast of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu, has. revealed that he has full support from the RFU to swap nations after moving to Japan.
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