Tawera Kerr-Barlow available for Wallabies switch 'without hesitation'
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All Blacks World Cup-winning scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow says he is available to make the switch to the Wallabies if called upon.
Kerr-Barlow won the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks and represented the side 29 times while also turning out for the Maori All Blacks and U20s.
Born in Melbourne, Australia the New Zealand-schooled half-back told RugbyRama that he would wear the Wallaby gold if asked to play.
À trente-deux ans, le demi de mêlée rochelais s’est confié sur la prochaine saison des Maritimes et son envie de jouer pour l’Australie, grâce à la nouvelle règle de World Rugby. https://t.co/jgGQnq4oSI
— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) August 24, 2022
"Unlike New Zealand, Australia have a rule allowing players who are overseas to still be eligible for selection."
"I am available to play for the Wallabies! I was born there I have a lot of ties in this country and if the staff calls me I will go without hesitation. It would be a great opportunity but for the moment I am focused on La Rochelle"
World Rugby’s new player eligibility laws allows players to switch nations provided they meet the following criteria:
- The player must stand-down from international rugby for 36 months
- The player must either be born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that country
- Under the revised Regulation 8 criteria, a player may only change union once and each case will be subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee to preserve integrity
The law has already been used by former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau and former All Blacks fullback Charles Piutau to play for Tonga.
Kerr-Barlow meets all the criteria and could follow suit having last played test rugby in 2017.
Since leaving New Zealand to join La Rochelle, the scrumhalf has played over 100 times for the French club and helped the side win their maiden Champions Cup title last season, although he did miss the final due to a head knock.
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