I was Steve Borthwick's first England debutant, now I want to join their Six Nations rivals
12/04/2024 04:08 AM
England's electric winger, Ollie Hassell-Collins, who holds the unique title of being the first player to debut under head coach Steve Borthwick, has dropped a tantalising hint about his future.
By 2026, the 25-year-old Leicester Tigers star could be donning the jersey of a Six Nations rival, sparking debate over a potential allegiance swap. While details remain speculative, Hassell-Collins' statement has set tongues wagging in rugby circles.
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Last Seen in the Six Nations…Then Silence
Despite earning two caps in the 2023 Six Nations, Hassell-Collins hasn't been included in any England squad since. The 25-year-old was also absent from England A's recent victory over Portugal.
Gatland's Nod: The Welsh Option Looms
Wales coach Warren Gatland has mentioned Hassell-Collins several times, especially when discussing dual-qualified talents like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
“I have seen Gatland's interview,” Hassell-Collins told the Telegraph. “I've got two caps for England, and obviously I'm English. But if I don't see anything in the next few years then it's definitely something that I would consider.
Welsh Roots Run Deep
Reflecting on his ties to Wales, Hassell-Collins shared, “I would qualify [for Wales] the year of the World Cup – that is, if he still wants me. Wales is still part of who I am.
“My grandma was Welsh and I still have family over there. It's still a part of me – and I'd never turn it down – but for now it's England for me.”
Other players who could swap nations:
#1. Manu Tuilagi to Samoa
In an extensive interview with The Daily Telegraph, the youngest Tuilagi revealed that while "England is very special to me, of course, but my heart and home is still Samoa."
“I’d love to pull on the blue jersey one day,”
Manu, who is named after the Samoan national side, is the odd one out of his rugby-playing brothers, as Anitelea, Alesana, Henry and Freddie all opted to play for Manu Samoa rather than any of the European nations they spent time living in throughout their professional careers.
Tuilagi could be available for Samoa in 2027, Rugby World Cup though time isn’t on his side as he would be 35 by then.
#2. Zach Mercer
It’s noteworthy that the versatile number eight holds the option to switch his allegiance to New Zealand, though this switch seems unlikely.
This possibility arises due to his eligibility for the All Blacks, facilitated by his father’s illustrious rugby league career that encompassed 21 Test appearances for the New Zealand team.
#3. Nathan Hughes (Fiji)
When asked if he’d be open to swapping nations, he told Rugby Pass: "Yes, 100 per cent,"
He added: "I'm just focusing purely on Black Rams and just playing as well as I can and letting the selectors do their job.
"The coaches and their staff are all in Europe at the moment and I'm not sure when they will be coming to Japan. We'll wait until the day comes.
“If he picks me, we will make the decision then, but we have got two more games to go (at Black Rams) and we are trying to finish as high as we can up the table and go from there,”
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