Great‑Grandparents Rule: Rugby League’s New Family‑Tree Eligibility

The International Rugby League has opened the eligibility door a generation further – if your great‑grandparent was born in a country, you can now line up for that nation’s jersey. It’s a rule that turns family trees into scouting charts.

Troy Grant, the league’s chairman, says the change is about spreading more NRL talent around the globe to grow the international game. He sees the broader pool as a boost for rugby league’s worldwide profile.

Supporters argue the rule adds diversity and gives players a chance to honour heritage they might not have otherwise explored. Critics worry it could stretch the notion of national identity, turning squads into what some describe as a family reunion on the field.

Whether the rule will lead to a flood of new qualifiers or simply give a few adventurous players a passport to a new jersey remains to be seen, but the debate over how far eligibility should stretch is now officially on the pitch.