Andy Farrell hasn’t been shy in choosing gamers from the Southern Hemisphere to attempt to obtain a sequence win in Australia this summer season.
Seven of the eight gamers born outdoors Nice Britain and Ireland come from both South Africa, New Zealand or hosts Australia, whereas one other, Marcus Smith, was born within the Philippines.
However it’s nothing new. Way back to 1904, Guys Hospital gamers Pat McEvedy and Arthur O’Brien had been a part of the Lions squad that travelled to their native New Zealand.
It has continued nearly unabated since then. Lions legend Ronan O’Gara was born in San Diego, whereas Brendan Mullin and Jamie Heaslip had been each born in Israel, a rustic not recognized for being a hotbed of rugby.
These are Farrell’s Southern Hemisphere legion.
Pierre Schoeman
The Edinburgh and Scotland loosehead was born in Nelspruit in north-east South Africa, was educated on the College of Pretoria and was capped by the Springboks at under-18 and under-20 ranges. He moved to Edinburgh from the Bulls in 2018 and certified to play for Scotland by residency in October 2021.
Bundee Aki
The Connacht and Eire inside centre was born in Auckland and educated at Manurewa Excessive College. He additionally certified to play for Samoa by his dad and mom and accomplished a three-year residency interval after transferring to Eire in 2014. He holds twin New Zealand and Irish citizenship.
Duhan van der Merwe
The Edinburgh and Scotland winger was born in George on the Western Cape. Additionally educated on the College of Pretoria, he performed for the Springboks at under-20 stage. He certified for Scotland in 2020 after dwelling in Edinburgh for 3 years and is the nation’s document strive scorer.
Sione Tuipulotu
The Glasgow Warriors and Scotland inside centre, like his youthful brother Mosese, qualifies for Gregor Townsend’s aspect on ancestry grounds by their grandmother Jaqueline Thomson, who hails from Greenock. The Melbourne-born brothers might additionally play for Tonga by their father. Sione has performed for Australia A.
James Lowe
The Leinster and Eire winger was born in Nelson, the second largest metropolis on the South Island, and educated at Nelson Faculty. He joined Leinster from the Chiefs and certified for Eire on residency grounds. In 2025, Lowe and his spouse grew to become Irish residents together with 5,000 others.
Mack Hansen
The Connacht and Eire winger was born in Canberra and received caps for the Australia under-20 aspect whereas taking part in for the Brumbies. He was educated at Daramalan Faculty, a Roman Catholic highschool, and moved to Connacht in 2021. He qualifies for Eire by his Cork-born mom.
Jamison Gibson-Park
The Leinster and Eire scrum-half was born on Nice Barrier Island in central Auckland. He had unsuccessful trials for the New Zealand under-20 squad and represented the Maori All Blacks. After transferring to Leinster in 2016, he certified for Eire in August 2019 and received his first cap underneath Farrell in October 2020.
Huw Jones
The Glasgow Warriors and Scotland centre could have been born within the nation he represents however learnt his commerce after travelling to South Africa in his hole yr, taking a job at Bishops in Cape City. He was noticed by Western Province and the Stormers whereas taking part in for the Ikey Tigers.
