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All Blacks to switch allegiance?

Cape Town - A number of former All Blacks intend to make themselves available for Pacific Island nations at next year's Rugby World Cup in England.

A change in eligibility laws, put in place by the IRB due to the inclusion of Rugby Sevens at the Olympics, will allow players who have played Test rugby at any level for one nation, to represent another if they hold that nation's passport.

Providing they haven't played international rugby for 18 months, they can participate in the Sevens World Series or designated Regional Olympic Qualification Tournaments and become eligible to play for that same nation in all forms of rugby.

According to New Zealand's ONE News website, former All Blacks Anthony Tuitavake, Sam Tuitupou and ex-Wallabies Mark Gerrard and Sitaleki Timani will lodge an application to play for Tonga under Regulation 8 in the IRB Handbook.

Ex-All Black Sevens representatives Alando Soakai, Lifeimi Mafi and Roy Kinikinilau are also believed to be on board for Tonga, while the Chiefs' Tim Nanai-Williams has confirmed his intentions to play for Samoa.

Other former All Blacks who could also make the switch include Isaia Toeava (Tonga), Casey Laulala, Chris Masoe, Lelia Masaga and Mose Tuiali'i (Samoa), while cousins Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu may opt to play for Fiji.

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