England fans lay into Scotland for 'poaching players' ahead of Six Nations clash

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As England prepare to face Scotland in the Six Nations, the debate over player eligibility has reignited, with fans taking aim at Scotland's reliance on foreign-born talent.

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Duhan van der Merwe, the South African-born winger who has tormented England in recent years, has become a particular focus of criticism.

The Calcutta Cup has firmly belonged to Scotland in recent seasons, with Gregor Townsend's side asserting dominance over their oldest rivals. As they return to Allianz Stadium after last year's emphatic victory in Edinburgh, the Scots will be determined to extend their winning streak.

With one of rugby's fiercest rivalries set to take centre stage once again, the latest chapter promises fireworks both on and off the pitch.

Foreign-born players in the Six Nations:

The following breakdown, based on data compiled by Americas Rugby News, examines the composition of various national teams, shedding light on the number of foreign-born players and how they qualify for their respective squads.

This international blend underlines rugby's global nature, with some nations leaning on overseas-born talent more than others. Ahead of round two, we’ve broken down the squads – and Scotland lead the way by a mile when it comes to foreign-born players.

ENGLAND

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/41 (95.2%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 3/41 (7.3%)

• Bevan Rodd (Scotland) – Parent
• Chandler Cunningham-South (England) – Born in England
• Harry Randall (England) – Born in England
• Marcus Smith (Philippines) – Parent
• Tom Roebuck (Scotland) – Parent

FRANCE

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/42 (92.8%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 6/42 (14.2%)

• Dany Priso (Cameroon) – Residency (2008)
• Uini Atonio (New Zealand) – Residency (2014)
• Giorgi Beria (Georgia) – Residency (2002)
• Joshua Brennan (Ireland) – Residency (2005)
• Emmanuel Meafou (New Zealand) – Residency (2023)
• Émilien Gailleton (England) – Parent

IRELAND

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 30/36 (83.3%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 9/36 (25%)

• Rob Herring (South Africa) – Grandparent
• Finlay Bealham (Australia) – Grandparent
• Cormac Izuchukwu (England) – Parent
• Joe McCarthy (USA) – Parent
• Jamison Ratu Gibson-Park (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)
• Bundee Aki (New Zealand) – Residency (2017)
• Ciarán Frawley (Australia) – Parent
• Mack Hansen (Australia) – Parent
• James Lowe (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)

ITALY

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 21/31 (67.7%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 9/31 (29.0%)

• Dino Lamb-Cona (England) – Parent
• Sebastian Negri (Zimbabwe) – Parent
• Ross Vintcent (South Africa) – Grandparent
• Martin Page-Relo (France) – Grandparent
• Stephen Varney (Wales) – Parent
• Juan Ignacio Brex (Argentina) – Grandparent
• Montana Ioane (Australia) – Residency (2020)
• Ange Capuozzo (France) – Parent
• Matt Gallagher (England) – Parent

SCOTLAND

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 25/42 (58,1.3%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 18/43 (44.1%)

1. Pierre Schoeman (South Africa) – Residency (2021)
2. Ewan Ashman (Canada) – Parent
3. Dylan Richardson (South Africa) – Parent
4. Will Hurd (England) – Grandparent
5. Cameron Henderson (Hong Kong) – Parent
6. Ewan Johnson (England) – Parent
7. Marshall Sykes (England) – Grandparent
8. Josh Bayliss (England) – Grandparent
9. Jack Dempsey (Australia) – Grandparent
10. Alexander Masibaka (Australia) – Parent
11. Ben White (England) – Grandparent
12. Fergus Burke (New Zealand) – Grandparent
13. Tom Jordan (New Zealand) – Residency (2024)
14. Rory Hutchinson (England) – Grandparent
15. Sione Tuipulotu (Australia) – Grandparent
16. Arron Reed (England) – Parent
17. Kyle Rowe (England) – Cumulative Residency
18. Duhan van der Merwe (South Africa) – Residency (2020)

WALES

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 26/34 (76.4%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 10/34 (29.4%)

• WillGriff John (England) – Parent
• Henry Thomas (England) – Parent
• Will Rowlands (England) – Parent
• Freddie Thomas (England) – Grandparent
• Christ Tshiunza (DR Congo) – Residency (2015)
• James Botham (Wales) – Born in Wales
• Taulupe Faletau (Tonga) – Residency (2001)
• Ellis Bevan (England) – Parent
• Nick Tompkins (England) – Grandparent
• Blair Murray (New Zealand) – Parent
• Ellis Mee (England) – Parent

EDITORS PICKS:

• Another Wales coach has been removed from his position
• Leicester Tigers coach has been stood down from his duties
• 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio confirms divorce after 20 years
• England winger makes surprise return after expressing desire to play for Wales
• Ex-Scotland coach calls for "immature" national anthem to be axed

Favourites to replace Warren Gatland:

However, the decision has left many Welsh fans puzzled, as no long-term replacement has been confirmed. So, who is next in line to take on the challenge of reviving Welsh rugby?

Here are five leading candidates for the job.

1. Michael Cheika – Leicester Tigers Head Coach

Cheika is currently leading Leicester Tigers on a one-year deal, which he is not expected to extend beyond this season. That could open the door for Wales to swoop in for the experienced Australian.

With previous head coaching stints at Australia and Argentina, Cheika boasts significant international pedigree. Ironically, he masterminded Argentina's quarter-final victory over Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Cheika is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Gatland. However, if Wales opt for him, they may need an interim coach to bridge the gap until the end of his Leicester tenure—a potential complication, particularly with Wales' summer tour of Japan carrying major implications for World Cup seeding.

2. Simon Easterby – Ireland Head Coach (Interim)

Currently standing in for Andy Farrell as Ireland's head coach while Farrell prepares for the British and Irish Lions tour, Easterby has been part of the Irish coaching setup since 2014. Before that, he gained experience coaching at the Scarlets.

Although this Six Nations marks his first stint as an international head coach, his familiarity with the Welsh game makes him a compelling candidate. The WRU will have the opportunity to directly assess his credentials throughout the tournament before making a move.

Easterby is joint-third favourite with bookmakers and has strong backing from sections of the Welsh fanbase.

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