Benched NZ-born prop ineligible for Scotland

CARDIFF - Rugby's eligibility laws have come under the microscope again, with New Zealand prop Paul Thomson baffled that he cannot be considered to play for Scotland.

The former Auckland and Blues front rower, who plays for the Borders club, was declared ineligible to represent Scotland by the International Rugby Board.

The IRB's reasoning was that Thomson, 28, had sat on the bench as an unused substitute for New Zealand A against the Australian Barbarians three years ago.

This month the IRB cleared halfback Steve Devine to play for the All Blacks on their present tour, even though he had represented Australia at a sevens tournament.

Thomson, who played several seasons for Auckland and was teammate of Devine's at the Blues, has fallen foul of the same law.

He signed a two-year contract with the new Scottish district club last year under the understanding that he was free to pursue an international career with Scotland because his grandfather came from Ayrshire.

"When I saw Steve's eligibility go through, I thought mine would go through too," Thomson told the Daily Mail newspaper.

The verdict leaves the club no alternative but to re-classify Thomson as a foreign player under European Cup rules.

- NZPA