State of Origin will see New Zealand and English Test players line up for NSW or Qld after changes to the eligibility rules were announced.
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) said on Monday the “modernisation” of Origin eligibility is a reflection of the code’s international growth.
The announcement came on the same day of confirmation that Auckland’s Eden Park would host an Origin game in 2027: click here for that story.
The opening round of the new NRL season will be split with some games to be played in Las Vegas, USA.
The ARLC says under the updated rules, any Tier One non-Australian Test player who meets the eligibility criteria will be able to play Origin.
But the player needs to be born in New South Wales or Queensland; lived in either state before their 13th birthday or had a father who played Origin.
NEED FOR ORIGIN CHANGES
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says the changes are necessary and a logical evolution for the game in 2026.
“Rugby league has changed, the international game has grown and our rules need to reflect that,” he says.
“If a player is eligible to play, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they’ve represented New Zealand or England at Test level.”
V’landys says the series is about where a player is from and what state they can player for, not what country they represent.
“If you’re eligible, you should be able to play for your state,” he says.
“Over 45 years, Origin developed into something special. We want the best players playing if they’re eligible.”
Previous eligibility criteria was restricted to players who could play for the Kangaroos or a Tier Two nation.
The changes could pave the way for players like Addin Fonua-Blake to play for the Blues after his one Test for New Zealand against Scotland in 2017.
Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga could switch his allegiances to New Zealand without missing out on Origin while AJ Brimson and Victor Radley are now eligible again after they played for England.
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