Players who are actually South African

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The 2025 Six Nations Championship has officially kicked off. But did you know that many South Africans will be participating too?

As the name suggests, the tournament represents six countries of: England, Wales, France, Ireland, Italy, and Scotland.

The championship takes place between 31 January and 15 March.

SIX NATIONS PLAYERS WHO ARE SOUTH AFRICAN

Take a look at these South African born Six Nations players…

Scotland

Before his big move to Scotland, Pierre Schoeman – who was born in Nelspruit- attended the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria. He also studied Business Studies at the University of Pretoria and represented the Blue Bulls.

In 2018, Schoeman signed a deal with Edinburgh Rugby. In 2021, he made the Scotland national training squad after he qualified to play for the country through residency.

Despite playing for the U20 Springboks side and a short stint at the Bulls, Duhan van der Merwe moved abroad to play club rugby.

In 2020, he qualified for residency in Scotland after playing for the Edinburgh club in 2017. He made his international debut that year and, like Pierre, played in the 2023 Rugby World Cup for his adoptive country. He will now represent his adoptive country in the Six Nations.

Ireland

Rob Herring was born in Cape Town and attended the prestigious South African College High School. He now plays for Ireland through the eligibility of his grandfather.

France

Despite playing for the Lions Blue Bulls and representing SA nationally, Pretoria-born Paul Willemse qualified to play for France after gaining residency and later nationality.

Italy

Sebastian Negri was born in Zimbabwe but relocated to Satil at the age of 20.

He qualifies to play for Italy via his father’s nationality.

Negri previously revealed that his family was forced to vacate their Zimbabwean home due to political unrest. The Six Nations player told RugbyPass: “I had an amazing upbringing on the farm – that was taken in a matter of twelve hours.

“It was a horrible thing, but a lot of people were a lot worse off than us”

HOW DO YOU QUALIFY TO REPRESENT ANOTHER COUNTRY?

According to World Rugby’s Regulation 8.1, players may represent a country provided they have a “genuine, close, credible and established national link” to it.

For those who will be playing in the Six Nations, the following must apply…

The player was born in the country
A parent or grandparent was born in the country
The player has been registered exclusively with a Union or Rugby Body in the country for sixty months immediately preceding the time of playing or
The player has completed ten years of cumulative residence preceding the time of playing.