I've not seen it mentioned here but apparently cherry evans was also given the option to join the England team because his mum has English heritage .

I dont mind when it's because of family like pats parents being Irish but I'm not sure about residency yet. I think growing up with football as the main sport in the house makes it seem odd to me but I know all the pacific islanders do it so suppose it ain't too bad as it's what the others do just seems odd to me.
It's not like he could show any less passion for the shirt than the rest of the squad/some of the fans though is it?

Joke

how very strange

what the hell happens to Widdop now?

Pacific Islanders often have to choose because their parents/grandparents were from the Islands but emigrated and the player may have been brought up in New Zealand or Australia. So fair enough, they have a decision to make between the country of their parentage or country of their upbringing. They can be nationals of both, of course.

What I don't like is someone coming over here as an adult to further their career and then being picking as "English" because they've been here a handful of years. Jeez, Rangi even sounds like the Kiwi he is.

Good to hear. If he qualifies for residency that's good enough for me. He's old enough to make the choice for himself.

Likewise if some of the English lads down under decide they want to play for Australia, that's fine. Although I wouldn't give them the time of day if they came back and I'm sure the same is true for Chase in New Zealand. That's the sacrifice you make.

He plays alongside Chase?

Cue the good old north of england names for him

I'll start with Angus Chase

Think you will have to travel a bit further north for that one .

International RL.......................what an absoulute joke. Sums up yet again why I have absoulutely no interest in it what so ever.

Absolute farce. I wont cheer him at Wembley next month.

What message does this send to the likes of Widdop/Lomax, when they go to RU, the same people who are saying this is about winning the 4 Nations, will be the first to and moan about it.

I may get shot down for this, but I genuinly dont think anybody cares about international RL in this country anymore, the crowds for the four nations will prove that, just like the world cup game when we couldnt even sell out the DW against the Aussies, and once again RL will be shown up on national television when we get spanked by the Aussies in front of an 80% empty Wembley. I cant quite put my finger on why but I just dont care at all about the National team, im the same with Football. Things like this though, having kiwis, samoans etc etc dont make things any better, they just make our national team even more of a laughing stock and send out a terrible message to the likes of Lomax and Widdop.

The only way you will get any interest in the national game is if they bring back the GB tours every 4 years. Fact.

Everyone saying 'others do it so why dont we' Australia and NZ have Samoans/Tongans playing for them, which lets be honest, is just like a Welsh/Irish playing for us - that I can understand but players like Rangi and Manu is just ridiculous, can you imagine smoeone from europe playing for Australia? In any sport? This is embarrassing. Whats wrong with Widdop, Lomax, Brough, McGuire, Burrow etc? What sort of message does this send out to the young kids like Mellor, Powell, Gaskell, O'Brian etc coming through the ranks in SL?

I was considering going to wembley to watch England v Aus but this has made my mind up for me, im not wasting my money on the pathetic state that is England RL.

Got to be Ronald.

Ron to his new mates.