Rugby: Thomson in new bid to play for Scotland

Former Auckland and Blues prop Paul Thomson will tonight (NZ time) have his appeal heard for a special dispensation from the International Rugby Board (IRB) to play for Scotland.

The IRB's game regulations committee is set to make a recommendation on the 28-year-old's eligibility to play for his adopted country, with the final decision coming on either Thursday or Friday.

Thomson, who plays for Scottish club Borders and has a Scottish grandparent, had his original application to play for Scotland turned down by the IRB on the grounds that he represented New Zealand 'A' against the Australian Barbarians in 1999.

Now Thomson believed there were several grounds for his appeal -- such as the precedent set by the IRB in allowing former Australian sevens player Steve Devine to play for the All Blacks last year. Also, former Australian Barbarians flanker Keith Gleeson has embarked on an international career with Ireland and former New Zealand 'A' player Tony Marsh has played for France.

Such precedents may now open the door for Thomson to play for Scotland.

Although there are issues surrounding the eligibility of what constitutes a "counting match", the confusion in Thomson's case is compounded by the fact that the player himself thought the side was more akin to a New Zealand Barbarians side, not an "A" side.

The IRB's revised laws over eligibility did not come into force until January 2000.

Thomson also claimed that the management of the New Zealand A team told him categorically at the time that his sitting on the bench for the side would not rule him out of playing for Scotland in the future, a question he specifically asked before agreeing to bench duty.

The prop also turned down the opportunity to play for the New Zealand A side the following year -- after the new laws came into being -- not wanting to compromise his desire to appear for Scotland.

- NZPA