The Official RWC 2023 Poaching Thread

[Lizard]

As with previous tournaments, to avoid unjustified accusations, this thread will as accurately as possible identify all poached players in every squad. To keep it simple, the rules are that any player born in a country other than the one he is representing is considered poached, no matter how he qualifies or any other connection with that country. (Don't argue, these rules are steeped in tradition. And it's just a bit of fun).

Starting with the original Pacific Pillagers,

New Zealand - 9:
2 Australians: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax
1 Fijian: Emoni Narawa
1 Samoan: Nepo Laulala
1 Scottish: Finlay Christie
4 Tongans: Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizell, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tuʻungafasi,

[Lizard]

Now the country that thinks it colonies are an integral part of the motherland, except when choosing where to test atomic weapons...

France - 5
New Caledonian: Peato Mauvaka
New Zealander: Uini Atonio
South African: Paul Willemse
Wallis & Futuan: Sipili Falatea, Yoram Moefana

[Lizard]

Now the only major western European nation that was too silly to even get an empire in the first place (no, I'm not counting Ethiopia - they didn't properly conquer it), let alone pillage its remnants for athletic talent.

Italy - 12
2 Argentinians: Ignacio Brex, Ivan Nemer
1 Australian: Monty Ioane
2 Englishmen: Dino Lamb, Paolo Odogwu
2 Frenchmen: Ange Capuozzo, Martin Page-Relo
1 German: Dave Sisi
2 New Zealanders: Hame Faiva, Toa Halafihi
1 Welshman: Stephen Varney
1 Zimbabwean: Sebastian Negri

[Lizard]

Now for the part of Argentina that Argentina couldn't completely steal from Brazil...

Uruguay - 1
1 Argentinian: Baltazar Amaya

27 of Uruguay's 33 were born in the city of Montevideo.

[Lizard]

Is "Boer" a German word? What about Apartheid?

Namibia - 0

I'm not counting the players born in South-West Africa (gained independence from South Africa as Namibia in 1990) as poached, but its a fine line. I mean if you're counting SWA-born Percy Montgomery as South African...)

[Lizard]

Well, I can see why no one is emigrating to...

South Africa - 0

[Lizard]

The RWC country that most recently chose not to be a country...

Scotland - 15
2 Australians: Jack Dempsey, Sione Tuipulotu
1 Canadian: Ewan Ashman
6 Englishmen: Chris Harris, Ali Price, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner, Hamish Watson, Ben White
1 Frenchman: Cameron Redpath
1 Irishman: Ben Healy
4 South Africans: Duhan van der Merwe, WP Nel, Pierre Schoeman, Kyle Steyn

[Son of Mathonwy]

Now the only major western European nation that was too silly to even get an empire in the first place (no, I'm not counting Ethiopia - they didn't properly conquer it), let alone pillage its remnants for athletic talent.

Italy - 12
2 Argentinians: Ignacio Brex, Ivan Nemer
1 Australian: Monty Ioane
2 Englishmen: Dino Lamb, Paolo Odogwu
2 Frenchmen: Ange Capuozzo, Martin Page-Relo
1 German: Dave Sisi
2 New Zealanders: Hame Faiva, Toa Halafihi
1 Welshman: Stephen Varney
1 Zimbabwean: Sebastian Negri

They'll have a 'Caesar' when they read this.

[Lizard]

Now the only major western European nation that was too silly to even get an empire in the first place (no, I'm not counting Ethiopia - they didn't properly conquer it), let alone pillage its remnants for athletic talent.

Italy - 12
2 Argentinians: Ignacio Brex, Ivan Nemer
1 Australian: Monty Ioane
2 Englishmen: Dino Lamb, Paolo Odogwu
2 Frenchmen: Ange Capuozzo, Martin Page-Relo
1 German: Dave Sisi
2 New Zealanders: Hame Faiva, Toa Halafihi
1 Welshman: Stephen Varney
1 Zimbabwean: Sebastian Negri

They'll have a 'Caesar' when they read this.

Italy is in no real sense a successor state to the Roman Empire. Mind you, a test side drawn from former Roman territories might be quite handy.

[Lizard]

Now for the country that's actually 1.25 countries.

Ireland - 8
2 Americans: Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy
2 Australians: Finlay Bealham, Mack Hansen
3 New Zealanders: Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe
1 South African: Rob Herring

[Lizard]

The team most despoiled by the grasping New Zealand Rugby Union, who've never done a damn thing in return

Tonga - 17
3 Australians: Adam Coleman, Steve Mafi, Afusipa Taumoepeau
14 New Zealanders: Pita Ahki, Joe Apikotoa, Feao Fotuaika, William Havili, Fine Inisi, Tau Koloamatangi, Sam Lousi, George Moala, Sam Moli, Paul Ngauamo, Charles Piutau, Gus Pulu, Ben Tameifuna, Anzelo Tuitavuki

[Lizard]

Now that we've nearly forgotten that they were a tool of a tyrannical dictator, everyone's second favourite Eastern European team

Romania - 10
1 American: Robert Irimescu
1 Australian: Jason Tomane
4 Frenchmen: Thomas Crețu, Taylor Gontineac, Adrian Moțoc, Nicolas Onuțu
1 Moldovan: Gheorghe Gajion
1 New Zealander: Hinckley Vaovasa
2 Tongans: Tangimana Fonovai, Tevita Manumua

[Lizard]

Not even really 0.25 of a country

Wales - 10
1 Congolese: Christ Tshiunza
7 Englishmen: Tomas Francis, Dan Lydiate, George North, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams
1 New Zealander: Gareth Anscombe
1 Tongan: Taulupe Faletau

[Son of Mathonwy]

Now the only major western European nation that was too silly to even get an empire in the first place (no, I'm not counting Ethiopia - they didn't properly conquer it), let alone pillage its remnants for athletic talent.

Italy - 12
2 Argentinians: Ignacio Brex, Ivan Nemer
1 Australian: Monty Ioane
2 Englishmen: Dino Lamb, Paolo Odogwu
2 Frenchmen: Ange Capuozzo, Martin Page-Relo
1 German: Dave Sisi
2 New Zealanders: Hame Faiva, Toa Halafihi
1 Welshman: Stephen Varney
1 Zimbabwean: Sebastian Negri

They'll have a 'Caesar' when they read this.

Italy is in no real sense a successor state to the Roman Empire. Mind you, a test side drawn from former Roman territories might be quite handy.

Yeah, I had a terrible pun, I had to use it.

[Puja]

They'll have a 'Caesar' when they read this.

Italy is in no real sense a successor state to the Roman Empire. Mind you, a test side drawn from former Roman territories might be quite handy.

Yeah, I had a terrible pun, I had to use it.

You came, you saw, you pundered.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

Italy is in no real sense a successor state to the Roman Empire. Mind you, a test side drawn from former Roman territories might be quite handy.

Yeah, I had a terrible pun, I had to use it.

You came, you saw, you pundered.

Puja

It was the Punic Wars that started it.

[Lizard]

Yeah, I had a terrible pun, I had to use it.

You came, you saw, you pundered.

Puja

It was the Punic Wars that started it.

Now now. Stop turning this Forum into a Circus.

[Lizard]

Ok, back to the serious stuff. The team that NZ has consistently propped up just to get some local competition.

Australia - 7
3 Fijians: Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu
3 New Zealanders: Lalakai Foketi, Will Skelton, Jordan Uelese
1 Tongan: Taniela Tupou

[Lizard]

And here's yet another Top 10 side ripping the guts out of lesser ranked sides, like Australia and England.

Fiji - 5
1 Australian: Isoa Nasilasila
1 Englishman: Sam Matavesi
3 New Zealanders: Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Caleb Muntz, Zuriel Togiatama

[Lizard]

Similar to the former South West Africa/Namibia, I'm not counting as poached players born within the current borders but what it was part of the USSR rather than...

Georgia - 1
1 Russian: Merab Sharikadze

[Lizard]

The relevant data is in very short supply*, probably because no one can understand a language as obscure as that spoken in...

Portugal - 5
5 Frenchmen: Anthony Alves, Lionel Campergue, Francisco Fernandes, Samuel Marques, Mike Tadjer

*So these numbers could be way off

[Lizard]

They invented rugby, so have a legitimate claim that all rugby players are in some sense from...

England - 6
1 Australian: Billy Vunipola
1 Cypriot: Henry Arundell
1 Filipino: Marcus Smith
1 Samoan: Manu Tuilagi
1 Scotsman: Bevan Rodd
1 South African: David Ribbans

[Lizard]

There is a typical and traditional style of play, relying on the presence of many people from the South Pacific, that is unique to the North Pacific country of...

Japan - 14
2 Australians: Jack Cornelsen, James Moore
2 Fijians: Semisi Masirewa, Jone Naikabula
1 Korean: Koo Ji-won
3 New Zealanders: Michael Leitch, Lomano Lemeki, Craig Millar
2 South Africans: Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley
1 Thai: Ben Gunter
3 Tongans: Siosaia Fifita, Sione Halasili, Asaeli Ai Valu

[Lizard]

Preferring their thugs and racists to be homegrown...

Argentina - 0

[Lizard]

Another poor island nation getting no change from the big boys:

Samoa - 25
2 Australians: Michael Ala'alatoa, UJ Seuteni
23 New Zealanders: Nigel Ah Wong, Brian Alainu'uese, Paul Alo-Emile, Ere Enari, So'otala Fa'aso'o, Charlie Faumuina, Neria Fomai, Ben Lam, Seilala Lam, Christian Leali'ifano, D'Angelo Leuila, Steve Luatua, Sama Malolo, Alamanda Motuga, Duncan Paia'aua, Taleni Seu, Danny Toala, Sam Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Jordan Taufua, Jonathan Taumateine, Luteru Tolai, Chris Vui