A good example of this is Nigel Vagana. Played for Samoa until he was good enough for NZ. Once he was good enough for NZ he played for them. When he was too old and not good enough for NZ he returned to Samoa.

The Origin games have different qualification criteria than International games. To play for NSW or Queensland you must have played your junior rugby in that State, that is qualification is based upon the "origin" of your junior development.

In the case of Adrian Lam, he played rugby for a junior club in Queensland and so qualified for them for State of Origin. But he opted to stay loyal to PNG, the country of his birth, for international rugby.

That's not an option now though. If you play SOO you have to put your hand up for Aus.

Sam Burgess is entitled to apply for Aussie citizenship but IMO we shouldn't select him to represent this country again if he does.

Sad thing is, he's one of the, if not the world's best forward. We need players like Sam to help us forge a strong international team.

What a ridiculous statement that is. Simply applying for Australian citizenship has no baring on his loyalty to the English side.

I was born in Newton le Willows and I'm immensely proud of being a Lancastrian and an English woman. No way, if I had been enough in any sport, would I consider representing any country but England. In my opinion anyone who forgets their English "roots" isn't worth pulling on an English shirt and England is well rid of him or her.

With a name like OzWarrior I wouldn't expect any other reaction. However, I fundamentally disagree with you.

Didn't Morley do the same at one point?

I recall him saying it wasn't anything to do with loyalty but more that it made the logistics of leaving and entering the country easier or something similar.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

bang on fella,i recall mozza saying that he applied for his aussie citizenship as it made it easier for him to come and go as he pleased between england and oz,i also believe that he still has kept his property over there and that he would like to spend plenty of time there when he retires

That'd be awesome, wouldn't it - 'that ideal way to improve the England team!', as espoused by so many posters a couple of years ago - ensuring that not only are the English clubs denuded of their best players, but stripping the England team as well. Great stuff.

Correct, with Hayne potentially missing Origin 2 Anthony Minichiello is being considered as a possible replacement, however should he be selected he must choose between NSW or playing for Italy in the World Cup.

rlhttps://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/blues-face-more-origin-woe-239181rl

It's just a red tape decision that's all. I'd like to see eligibility simplified to 'wherever you lived the longest' none of this grandparent/citizenship etc stuff. The only issue is the lesser RL countries would be without SL and NRL players for the most part

If what you say is correct then I concur. I assumed that taking the citizenship of another country was more meaningful than that.

NickyKiss is correct. Many thousands of English apply for citizenship each year, and the overwhelming reason for doing so is to make returning to England to visit loved ones easier.

Without the citizenship you are required to reapply for your visa every 5 years, which can be very time consuming and expensive. It has little more meaning than that.

Should he even make noises about wanting to represent Australia however, get well rid of him. I can't blame him for wanting to be part of State of Origin, it is a HUGE spectacle over here.. just as long as it stops there.