IRB join Shingler debate
The International Rugby Board said on Friday they would review the eligibility of Steven Shingler after a row between Scotland and Wales over the Swansea-born player’s decision to play for Scotland.
Shingler, 20, was named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad on Thursday, despite having played Welsh international junior rugby.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson picked the London Irish flyhalf/centre on the grounds that he has a mother born in Scotland.
However, Wales Rugby Union officials later pointed out that Shingler had already played for Wales Under-20 last year and was therefore tied to Wales at international level.
With the two unions unable to find agreement, the IRB has confirmed it will review the case.
“The International Rugby Board can confirm that it has been contacted by the Scottish Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union regarding the eligibility status of Steven Shingler,” the board said.
“It would be inappropriate to make any further comment until the matter has been fully reviewed and the Unions informed of the outcome.”
Neither Wales nor France run an A side and under IRB regulation eight that meant that in 2011 their Under-20 teams were considered to be their second XVs.
And as the match was sanctioned by the IRB as a “next senior XV-a-side national representative team”, any player on the field would have committed his future to that country for the rest of his international career.
Scotland are confident that Shingler, who has a Dumfries-born mother, is eligible to play for them despite playing fullback for Wales Under-20.
They cite the example of two players who represented Wales Under-20 against France U20 in 2010, but subsequently declared for Ireland.
However, Wales say the situation is different with Shingler because the game in 2011 had a different status to the one the year before.
However, Shingler claims that he “declined to sign a declaration” and is therefore able to choose to play for Scotland.
The SRU said: “Steven has informed us that he made it clear that he wished to leave open his international eligibility as he was also eligible to represent Scotland and England as well as Wales.”
It added that when picking Shingler it had taken into account the ruling by the IRB last year that former Wales Under-20 players James Loxton and Matthew Jarvis are eligible to play for Ireland, despite facing France U20 in 2010.
