Rugby players pursue French national team eligibility

Several athletes are leveraging heritage and residency rules to pursue representation for the French national rugby teams.

Shingi Manyarara, a Zimbabwean flanker playing for Racing 92 in the Top 14, has expressed his ambition to play for France. While he currently represents Zimbabwe, he is looking toward a potential selection for the French national rugby union team, possibly as early as 2028, provided he meets World Rugby eligibility requirements regarding residency or ancestry.

In rugby league, Australian center Latrell Siegwalt is set to represent France in the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. Siegwalt, who has played in the NRL for South Sydney, traces his family roots back to France through his grandfather, George, who emigrated to Australia following World War II.