The selection of former England prop Henry Thomas in Wales' extended World Cup training squad this week sent shockwaves through Welsh rugby.
Even though the Montpellier tighthead has won seven caps for England, he now qualifies for Wales courtesy of a significant change to World Rugby's eligibility laws.
Players can now represent another nation after a three-year stand-down period, provided either they or their parent and grandparent were born there.
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WalesOnline look at other players who could one day switch their allegiances over to Wales.
Rhys Ruddock
The son of Wales 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam winning coach Mike Ruddock, the 32-year-old has represented Leinster for the past decade.
Rhys Ruddock was born in Dublin but spent the majority of his childhood in Wales representing the Ospreys at age grade level, and playing for Swansea in the Welsh Premiership.
But he opted to go down the Irish route and has been a key member of the Leinster squad which has been at the cutting edge of European rugby for a number of years.
Ruddock is a physical blindside, who gets through a copious amount of work, while his leadership ability is well respected in Irish rugby circles.
The 32-year-old won the last of his 25 Ireland caps against France in the 2021 Six Nations, and would become eligible for Wales again next year.
Lewis Ludlow
The 28-year-old is a stalwart of Gloucester rugby and has captained the Cherry & Whites on a number of occasions.
There is nothing glamorous about the back-rower who has never been one to grab the headlines, preferring to get stuck in to do all the unseen dirty work.
The man who originally hails from Ampthill has won two caps for England, the last of which came in 2021, but does have a grandfather from Wales meaning he could become an option in the near future.
Joe Marchant
The 26-year-old centre is very much part of England's immediate plans and is likely to represent Steve Borthwick's side at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Born in Winchester, Marchant has come through the English age grade system, winning 15 caps at senior level.
An explosive centre, who can also play wing, with strong footballing ability the Harlequins star would be an asset to most sides.
Prior to winning his first cap back in 2018, the Welsh Rugby Union were reportedly interested in Marchant who they believe has Welsh heritage.
The idea of Marchant ever representing Wales may sound far fetched but as of next season he will be plying his trade in the Top 14 for Stade Francais, ruling himself out of England selection.
If three years pass without winning an England cap, could Warren Gatland or his successor make a move?
Stranger things have happened.
Shannon Frizell
The 25 cap New Zealand international was born in Tonga but has a father who originally hails from Swansea.
Many years ago before Frizell made his name in the game there were attempts to place the abrasive blindside flanker at a Welsh region but all four refused him.
Well, that turned out to be a pretty big mistake from a rugby point of view with the no-nonsense Highlanders star cementing his place as a front-line All Black.
At the conclusion of this autumn's World Cup, Frizell will leave Super Rugby to take up a contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan making himself ineligible for All Blacks selection.
At the 2027 World Cup Frizell will be 33 but could theoretically become eligible for Tonga and Wales.
Stephen Varney
The 21-year-old Gloucester scrum-half hails from Rhosill in Pembrokeshire, and is a fluent Welsh speaker having attended Ysgol y Preseli, in Crymych.
But has has chosen to represent Italy, and has already won 19 caps.
Varney, whose dad Adrian played for Neath, qualifies to represent the Azzurri courtesy of his grandparents on his mothers side hailing from Italy.
A talented scrum-half with a sharp tactical brain, Wales would likely be interested in Varney giving the lack of depth they currently have in the number nine position.
But it is unlikely Varney will switch allegiances back to the land of his birth, and is likely to be an integral part of the Italian national side for the next decade.
Joe Heyes
The 24-year-old tighthead is a key member of Steve Borthwick's England squad, and has a reputation as a strong scrummager, and a dynamic ball carrier.
There had been interest from Welsh sides in the Leicester Tigers star before he won the first of his seven England caps but he opted to represent the land of his birth.
Heyes' Welsh link comes from his father, Darren, who was born in Swansea when his grandad, who was a professional football player and played in goal for the Swans.
While Heyes is likely to represent England for many years to come, the strength in depth they have in the front five makes it difficult to retain a place in their squad over a long period of time.
Should Heyes one day fall out of favour for a period of three years then Wales could become an option for him.
Henry Arundell
Prior to the London Irish star winning his first England cap last year there was a three-way battle for his services between the Red Rose, Scotland, and Wales.
In the end England won the race but the outrageously gifted full-back does have Welsh links through his grandparents.
It is not an exaggeration to say the 20-year-old has the potential to develop into one of the best outside-backs in the world game, and is likely to become a mainstay of English rugby for the next decade.
But in the very unlikely event he ever finds himself on the international rugby scrapheap then both Scotland and Wales could one day come calling for a second time.
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