Wales have suffered a setback in their plans to expand their player pool, with Leicester Tigers wing Ollie Hassell-Collins effectively ruled out for the foreseeable future.
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Hassell-Collins, 26, who qualifies for Wales through his Welsh grandmother, had been in a position to switch allegiance. Having not played for England in over two years, he would have been eligible to represent Wales in February 2026.
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However, his recent appearance for England A in their 28-12 win over Ireland A at Bristol Bears’ Ashton Gate now ties him to England until 2028, delaying any potential Wales switch by two years.
The winger starred in the England A victory, scoring one of the team’s tries. England’s points came from tries by Hassell-Collins, Jack van Poortvliet, and Greg Fisilau, plus a penalty try, with Charlie Atkinson and Jamie Shillcock adding the conversions.
Hassell-Collins’ try came in the first half when Atkinson’s acrobatic pass created space for him to cross in the corner, giving England a 7-0 lead. A second potential try was ruled out due to a forward pass in the build-up.
Hassell-Collins had previously expressed a genuine interest in representing Wales, telling The Telegraph last February:
“I’ve got two caps for England, and obviously I’m English. But if I don’t see anything in the next few years then it’s definitely something that I would consider. I would qualify [for Wales] the year of the World Cup – that is, if he (Warren Gatland) still wants me.
“Wales is still part of who I am. My grandma was Welsh and I still have family over there. It’s still a part of me – and I’d never turn it down – but for now it’s England for me.”
However, the reality of his situation may now force Hassell-Collins to reconsider whether sticking with England was the right choice. He was notably overlooked by England head coach Steve Borthwick for the recent summer tour, a snub that raises questions about his long-term future with the Three Lions.
For Wales, the hope of adding Hassell-Collins to their ranks has been delayed once again, leaving the door open for him to reflect on where his international career might best flourish.
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5 Ex-England players that could swap nations for 2027 Rugby World Cup
Multiple former England stars now ply their trade ‘in exile’ of the Premiership, or are eligible to represent a new nation having spent more than three years away from the Test match stage. In this article, we will review some former England players that could be on their way to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and don the colours of a new nation for the tournament out in Australia.
1. David Ribbans – South Africa (Eligible in 2026)
England fans have certainly missed the contributions of lock David Ribbans, with a possible change to green and gold on the cards for the South-African born second row. Whilst Ribbans has never ran out in a Test match for the Springboks, the former Western Province man has given Rassie Erasmus plenty of reason to select him for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Ribbans has been tearing up trees with RC Toulon in the Top 14, since departing England following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The 29-year-old is in the form of his life, with a place rightfully earned in the illustrious Top 14 Team of the Season for the latest 2024/25 campaign.
Ribbans was ever-present in the Toulon engine room, and was one of the first names on the team-sheet in the side’s play-off securing season. Whilst on the books with Northampton Saints from 2017 to 2023, Ribbans made his England debut in the 2022 Autumn Series against Japan, and collected a total of 11 caps for Steve Borthwick’s side and a Bronze medal from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
2. Joe Marchant – Italy (Eligible in 2026)
After commanding the England midfield for 27 caps from 2019, it was a shock to see Joe Marchant pursue pastures new following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Whilst Marchant’s run with the England team only lasted a single four year cycle, the former Harlequin had a significant impact across the England centres and wide channels. Marchant’s impressive versatility made him a constant name within the England squad, with Borthwick unleashing the play-maker as his first choice midfielder throughout the World Cup.
Marchant had been a mainstay of Twickenham since 2015, albeit aside from a season-long sabbatical in 2019 with the Blues in Super Rugby. With his New Zealand experience propelling Marchant into the Test match conversation, Marchant returned to Harlequins to win the Premiership title in the 2020/21 season. Now a long-serving Harlequins faithful, Marchant would then pursue a new adventure in 2022, with an agreement made with Stade Francais for a move to France following the Rugby World Cup.
Looking at Marchant’s unique mix of family ancestory, the midfielder has Italian and Trinidadian heritage on his father’s side. Whilst the Caribbean island of Trinadad & Tobago are a way off qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the former England man could well run out for Gonzalo Quesada’s Azzurri for the tournament. Marchant has the versatility to slot in seemlessly to any back-line, with his international experince and on-field athleticisim offering an exciting addition to the young gun Italian outfit.
Marchant already has a former Harlequins teammate running out with the Italians, as Louis Lynagh has followed his Azzurri roots for his international career. Also, an honourabale mention is in store for Alex Lozowski, as the Saracens centre last played for England in 2018, and is eligible to play for Italy now should he get the call for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.