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'I'll put my hand up for Tonga': Ngani Laumape eyes test rugby switch
Former All Blacks star Ngani Laumape has gone on record saying that he intends to switch international allegiance from New Zealand to Tonga.
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The prospect of Laumape turning out for the ‘Ikale Tahi has been made possible by World Rugby after the game’s global governing body voted for a law change last month that enables test-capped players to represent a second country they are eligible for through birthright following a three-year stand down period.
That change in ruling, which comes into effect in January, means Laumape will become eligible for Tonga, his parents’ homeland, in 2023 – provided he doesn’t make an international comeback with New Zealand before then.
Any chance of Laumape adding to his 15 All Blacks tests over the coming years appears slim, though, given he walked out on New Zealand Rugby earlier this year to sign what is believed to be a three-year deal with French club Stade Francais.
By plying his trade overseas, the 28-year-old has put his test career on hold for the time being as he has become ineligible for All Blacks selection, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to international rugby with his nation of heritage.
“I’ll put my hand up for Tonga. It would be a great opportunity to represent my parents’ country. I’m a proud Tongan so if I was picked I would definitely put my foot forwards,” Laumape said, as per AFP.
“But it’s still a couple of years away for me and I’m focusing on Stade Francais.”
After making it clear in June that he intends to finish his playing career outside of New Zealand, Laumape looks primed to join a raft of other former internationals set to switch allegiance to Tonga.
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Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa and ex-Wallabies loose forward Lopeti Timani already made that transition earlier this year, with both players turning out for Tonga at an Olympic Sevens Qualifying Tournament in Monaco six months ago.
Neither player had played for New Zealand or Australia since 2017, thus satisfying the three-year stand down period under World Rugby’s current laws, which stipulate that players can only switch between countries via an Olympic-related sevens competition.
An overhaul of that ruling will soon open the door for many more players to follow suit much more easily, paving the way for the likes of Charles Piutau, Israel Folau, Sekope Kepu, Adam Coleman, Vaea Fifita, George Moala, Augustine Pulu and Atu Moli to play for Tonga.
All eight of those players will either be eligible for Tonga from January 1, or will become eligible over the course of next year as they will have been absent from test rugby for three years.
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Bolstering Tonga’s squad with such star power leaves the ‘Ikale Tahi in good stead for the 2023 World Cup, which they are yet to qualify for, but that may be a tournament that Laumape is forced to miss out on.
Given he last played for the All Blacks in their Bledisloe Cup defeat to the Wallabies in Brisbane on November 7 last year, Laumape’s three-year stand down period won’t be completed until November 7, 2023.
That date falls an agonising nine days after the World Cup final, which means Laumape isn’t likely to play for Tonga until 2024 at the earliest.
By that stage, he will be 31-years-old and three years out from the 2027 World Cup, but you wouldn’t bet against the ex-NRL wing from pushing for a place at that tournament, which is expected to be held in Australia.
However, Laumape claims that he is yet to talk to Tonga’s coaching staff, headed by ex-Wallabies No 8 Toutai Kefu, although one would imagine that will change in the years to come.
Before then, the former Hurricanes powerhouse is intent on driving Stade Francais back up the Top 14 table as the Paris-based side currently languishes in 10th place with five wins from 12 matches thus far this season.
“I’m focusing on Stade Francais,” Laumape said, according to AFP. “I want to perform well, that’s what matters the most.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments