Born here to play there: RWC 2011 squads chocker with 'Kiwis'

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 9:35a.m.

Pick the Kiwis... both Australia coach Robbie Deans, left, and first-five Quade Cooper were born in New Zealand. Some 38 players outside of the All Blacks squad will feature in this year's 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing for other nations (Photosport)

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By Greg Robertson

It’s often been said – mostly by disgruntled fans following their team coughing up a hiding to the All Blacks – that our national team is full of foreign players and we pillage from the Pacific Islands.

The Rugby World Cup squads involved in this year’s tournament, however, completely throw that concept out the window.

In fact, looking at the country of birth of all 2011 Rugby World Cup players, our proud rugby nation is more of an exporter than any Island importer of raw talent. It's a relationship that benefits all parties involved.

Samoa is the greatest recipient of New Zealand’s thick rugby heritage and rugby development structure, with 15 of their squad from the land of the long white cloud.

It’s a pretty good swap for the 'Ikale Tahi: 15 in and giving back three of the four All Blacks players not born in this country (Mils Muliaina, Salelesi, Samoa; Jerome Kaino, Tutuila, Samoa; and Isaia Toeava, Moto'otua, Samoa). The only other player in the ABs squad not from New Zealand is ‘Ocker-born’ Ben Franks (Frankston, Australia).

In addition to our own All Blacks squad of players, we find some 38 New Zealand-born players in foreign rugby squad coffers, far exceeding the contributions made by our Tri-Nations counterparts Australia and South Africa (13 each).

Geez, even Aussie has one of our own at the pivotal first-five possie – Quade Cooper – the Tokoroa boy. But being born here definitely doesn’t automatically earn support from NZ fans. His run ins with All Black captain Richie McCaw see him with a ‘hate that man’ target square on his back.

Home grown we are indeed, but not in entirety. Those honours are held by Argentina, Georgia and Romania.

Of the real big guns though, it’s South Africa who dip the least - Tendai Mtawarira the only foreign born player (Harare, Zimbabwe).

Countries who don’t share their toys are France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Russia and Wales with no players in other squads.

The myth has been busted - it’s Kiwi talent most prominent on the largest Rugby stage in 2011.

Players born in other countries

Argentina: All born in Argentina

Australia: Dan Vickerman (Cape Town, South Africa), Radike Samo (Nadi, Fiji), Will Genia (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea), Stephen Moore (Khamis, Saudi Arabia), David Pocock (Messina, South Africa), Quade Cooper (Auckland, New Zealand), Digby Ioane (Wellington, New Zealand)

Canada: Nanyak Dala (Jos, Nigeria), DTH (Daniel Tailliferre Hauman) van der Merwe (Worcester, South Africa), Jeremy Kyne (Wellington, New Zealand), Jamie Mackenzie (Troon, Scotland), James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia)

England: Joe Simpson (Sydney, Australia), Delon Armitage (San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago), Alex Corbisiero (New York, USA), Matt Stevens (Durban, South Africa), Dylan Hartley (Rotorua, New Zealand), Simon Shaw (Nairobi, Kenya), Shontayne Hape (Auckland, New Zealand), Manu Tuilagi (Moto'otua, Samoa)

Fiji: Nicky Little (Tokoroa, New Zealand), Campese Ma'afu (Sydney, Australia), Deacon Manu (New Plymouth, New Zealand), Vitori Tomu Buatava (Melbourne, Australia), Michael Tagicakibau (Auckland, New Zealand)

France: Thierry Dusautoir (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)

Georgia: All Georgian-born.

Ireland: Ronan O'Gara (San Diego, USA), Isaac Boss (Tokoroa, New Zealand), Jamie Heaslip (Tiberias, Israel), Tom Court (Brisbane, Australia)

Italy: Carlo Del Fava (Umtata, South Africa), Corniel van Zyl (Nelspruit, South Africa), Quintin Geldenhuys (Klerksdorp, South Africa), Martin Castrogiovanni (Paraná, Argentina), Pablo Canavosio (Córdoba, Argentina), Luciano Orquera (Córdoba, Argentina), Gonzalo Garcia (Mendoza, Argentina), Robert Barbieri (Toronto, Canada), Sergio Parisse (Mar del Plata, Argentina), Gonzalo Canale (Córdoba, Argentina), Luke McLean (Townsville, Australia)

Japan: Luke Thompson (Christchurch, New Zealand), Michael Leitch (Burwood, New Zealand), Ryukoliniasi Holani (Nuku'alofa, Tonga), Shaun Webb (Blenheim, New Zealand), Justin Ives (Mosgiel, New Zealand), Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (Nuku'alofa, Tonga), James Arlidge (Hamilton, New Zealand), Murray Williams (Lower Hutt, New Zealand), Ryan Nicholas (Broken Hill, Australia), Alisi Tupuailai (Manunu, Samoa)

Namibia: Jacques Nieuwenhuis (Brakpan, South Africa), Piet van Zyl (Worcester, South Africa), Danie Dames (Pretoria, South Africa), Chrysander Botha (Walvis Bay, South Africa), Conrad Marais (Walvis Bay, South Africa) NB At the time of their birth Walvis Bay was South African territory.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina (Salelesi, Samoa), Ben Franks (Frankston, Australia), Jerome Kaino (Tutuila, Samoa), Isaia Toeava (Moto'otua, Samoa)

Romania: All Romania born.

Russia: Adam Byrnes (Sydney, Australia), Vyacheslav Grachev (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

Samoa: Census Johnston (Auckland, New Zealand), Anthony Perenise (Wellington, New Zealand), Olé Avei (Wellington, New Zealand), Daniel Leo (Palmerston North, New Zealand), Kane Thompson (Paraparaumu, New Zealand), Kahn Fotuali'i (Auckland, New Zealand), Jeremy Sua (Wellington, New Zealand), Tusi Pisi (Auckland, New Zealand), Sailosi Tagicakibau (Auckland, New Zealand), James So'oialo (Wellington, New Zealand), Ti'i Paulo (Christchurch, New Zealand), Filipo Lavea Levi (Hamilton, New Zealand), Junior Poluleuligaga (Auckland, New Zealand), Tasesa Lavea (Taihape, New Zealand), Paul Williams (Auckland, New Zealand)

Scotland: John Barclay (Hong Kong), Nathan Hines (Wagga Wagga, Australia), Dan Parks (Hornsby, Australia), Jim Hamilton (Swindon, England), Ruaridh Jackson (Northampton, England), Max Evans (Torquay, England), Graeme Morrison( Hong Kong)

South Africa: Tendai Mtawarira (Harare, Zimbabwe)

Tonga: Tukulua Lokotui (Auckland, New Zealand), Kurt Morath (Takapuna, New Zealand), Alipate Fatafehi (Sigatoka, Fiji), Ephraim Taukafa (Auckland, New Zealand), Joseph Tuineau (Suva, Fiji), Thomas Palu (Wellington, New Zealand), Andrew Ma'ilei (Auckland, New Zealand), William Helu (Otahuhu, New Zealand), Siale Piutau (Auckland, New Zealand)

USA: Takudzwa Ngwenya (Harare, Zimbabwe), Iñaki Basauri (Monterre, Mexico), JJ Gagiano (Cape Town, South Africa), Matekitonga Moeakiola (Vaini, Tonga), Valenise Malifa (Pago Pago, American Samoa), Hayden Smith (Penrith, Australia), Tai Enosa (Faga'alu, American Samoa), Andrew Suniula (Pago Pago, American Samoa), James Paterson (Christchurch, New Zealand), Tim Usasz (Brisbane, Australia), Junior Sifa (Faga'alu, American Samoa), Roland Suniula (Pago Pago, American Samoa)

Wales: Luke Charteris (Camborne, England), Danny Lydiate (Salford, England), Toby Faletau (Tofoa, Tonga), Jonathan Davies (Solihull, England), George North (King's Lynn, England)

Importers and Exporters

Importers

15: Samoa (all from New Zealand)
12: USA
11: Italy
10: Japan
9: Tonga
8: England
7: Australia, Scotland
5: Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Wales
4: Ireland, New Zealand
2: France, Russia
1: South Africa
0: Argentina, Georgia, Romania

Exporters

38: New Zealand
13: Australia, South Africa
6: Argentina, England
5: American Samoa, Samoa
4: Tonga
3: Fiji
2: Hong Kong, USA, Zimbabwe
1: Burkina Faso, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Scotland, Uzbekistan
0: France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Russia, Wales

New Zealand export by far the most. 15 New Zealand-born players play for Samoa. Three Samoan-born players play for New Zealand.

The three SANZAR countries export more than all the other countries combined.

Lost compiled by www.rugby365.com

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Comments [26]

WILSON

25 Oct 2011 06:09a.m.

Did that list of samoans grow up in NZ or were they just born there? Where you are born isnt the only indicator of nationality

Michael

08 Oct 2011 07:35a.m.

Can I point out that all the players in the Welsh list have been brought up and educated in Wales, some are Welsh speakers. They certainly are not 3 year jobs. You forget how small Wales is and how big our neighbour is. Staggeringly, 30% of Wales's population is born out of Wales. 2 out of 3 of my sons Welsh speaking sons were not born this side of the border. Call them English if you dare.

Petru Clej

25 Sep 2011 06:18a.m.

Just imagine a team made up of native Pacific Islanders - Samoans, Fijians, Tongans, NZ Maoris, Australian aboriginals - they would be perpetually world champions.

naraic

19 Sep 2011 09:26a.m.

Would be interesting if you looked at descent of players as well and age of importation too. I know Heaslip and O'Gara were both born to Irish parents and lived for less than a year in their native home. Also Court and Boss are of Irish descent.

Lee

16 Sep 2011 10:11a.m.

There are actually 17 New Zealand-born players in the Samoa Rugby World Cup squad, not 15. If you don't believe me, check the official media guide. Moreover, Tonga, not Samoa, is known as the Ikale Tahi. Just thought I'd point this out.

Sam

12 Sep 2011 11:53a.m.

It just shows how talented these pacific islanders are, regardless if they are born in the Pacific Islands or 2nd generation migrants. They have players in the Wales, Japan, USA, England, NZ and Australian team. The only thing that separates us from Scotland rugby team or Wales rugby team, is that we have a huge pacific islander population. We have similar population those countries, and similar size economy, same level of sports funding and sponsorship. So our only point of difference is...

MattBD

12 Sep 2011 10:49a.m.

Interesting stats but would be more interesting if you put what age they were when they moved to the country they are representing - ie were they part raised there or did they just move there to play rugby?

adam

12 Sep 2011 05:46a.m.

@ Matt.. quality players only come from SA?? haha, near or past All Blacks usually dominate the british, asian and europe markets mate, do some facts before posting false info next time.

Jesse

11 Sep 2011 05:30p.m.

hey anthony how many years b4 1987 did a pakiha/ maori all black team dominate rugby. look at the numbers. so we have 4 proud men from other countries adorning the black uniform. we as kiwi's are diverse (unlike your comments), and to say we would not get anywhere with out "island blood" is narrow minded. maybe the pacific teams dont do as well as us because they dont have pakiha and maori? but then there are 15 kiwis on the samoan team! no i dont really think this way, i think its a low point that this needed to be said, rugby is a link that binds all cultures of nz and the pacific. nz has a rugby culture and we credit a player for his contribution not his ethnitcity. so instead of being sour about it be proud of our contibution to the world

Andy

08 Sep 2011 10:40a.m.

At the end of the day it's the players choice who they choose to align themselves with, be it the country of their birth or adopted home. Oh, and by the way Anthony, it's a real All Blacks team BECAUSE it includes players with Fijian, Tongan and Samoan blood. They make up a significant part of the New Zealand culture. Do you think Pakehas all come from one country? Wake up buddy! New Zealand is a Pacific Island nation!!