Rugby makes switching countries easier for players, and the World Cup more competitive

  • FILE - This combo shows left, Ireland's Jean Kleyn during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium between Ireland and Samoa, in Fukuoka, on Oct. 12, 2019 and Jean Kleyn, right, playing for South Africa, during a rugby test match against Argentina, at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on Aug. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Natacha Pisarenko, File)
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    RWC Rugby Switching Countries

    FILE - This combo shows left, Ireland's Jean Kleyn during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium between Ireland and Samoa, in Fukuoka, on Oct. 12, 2019 and Jean Kleyn, right, playing for South Africa, during a rugby test match against Argentina, at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on Aug. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Natacha Pisarenko, File)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • FILE - New Zealand All Blacks Charles Piutau is tackled by France's Thierry Dusautoir, during their international rugby, at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside Paris, on Nov. 9, 2013. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
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    RWC Rugby Switching Countries

    FILE - New Zealand All Blacks Charles Piutau is tackled by France's Thierry Dusautoir, during their international rugby, at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside Paris, on Nov. 9, 2013. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • FILE - New Zealand's Malakai Fekitoa, right, runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between New Zealand and Namibia at the Olympic Stadium, London, on Sept. 24, 2015. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
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    RWC Rugby Switching Countries

    FILE - New Zealand's Malakai Fekitoa, right, runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between New Zealand and Namibia at the Olympic Stadium, London, on Sept. 24, 2015. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • FILE - Australia's Jack Dempsey is tackled by Georgian defenders during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa between Australia and Georgia in Shizuoka, Japan, on Oct.11, 2019. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
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    RWC Rugby Switching Countries

    FILE - Australia's Jack Dempsey is tackled by Georgian defenders during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa between Australia and Georgia in Shizuoka, Japan, on Oct.11, 2019. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • FILE - Lions' Jacques van Rooyen, left, is tackled by Hurricanes' Jeff To'omaga-Allen, middle, during the rugby semifinal match between Lions and Hurricanes, at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 29, 2017. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
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    RWC Rugby Switching Countries

    FILE - Lions' Jacques van Rooyen, left, is tackled by Hurricanes' Jeff To'omaga-Allen, middle, during the rugby semifinal match between Lions and Hurricanes, at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 29, 2017. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - This combo shows left, Ireland's Jean Kleyn during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium between Ireland and Samoa, in Fukuoka, on Oct. 12, 2019 and Jean Kleyn, right, playing for South Africa, during a rugby test match against Argentina, at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on Aug. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, Natacha Pisarenko, File)
FILE - New Zealand All Blacks Charles Piutau is tackled by France's Thierry Dusautoir, during their international rugby, at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside Paris, on Nov. 9, 2013. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - New Zealand's Malakai Fekitoa, right, runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between New Zealand and Namibia at the Olympic Stadium, London, on Sept. 24, 2015. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - Australia's Jack Dempsey is tackled by Georgian defenders during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa between Australia and Georgia in Shizuoka, Japan, on Oct.11, 2019. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - Lions' Jacques van Rooyen, left, is tackled by Hurricanes' Jeff To'omaga-Allen, middle, during the rugby semifinal match between Lions and Hurricanes, at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 29, 2017. A loophole that has allowed rugby players to more easily switch allegiances is helping reshape a sport that has previously tended to tie representative players to one country for life. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
FOSTER NIUMATA

Jeff Toomaga-Allen's All Blacks test career lasted 12 minutes. The tall tighthead prop was a late replacement in 2013 as New Zealand beat Japan 54-6 in Tokyo. In his brief action, Toomaga-Allen made four tackles, propped up three scrums, and forced a turnover.