This year's World Cup will be the first since World Rugby changed their eligibility rules in 2021.
That rule change has allowed test-capped players to represent a second nation that they are eligible for if they, their parents or their grandparents were born there, but only after a three-year stand down period from test rugby.
The move, while not restricted to Tier Two nations, will certainly benefit nations who have seen eligible players opt to play for bigger, more affluent countries. Specifically, the Pacific Islands have lost countless players over the years - with a similar rule change in rugby league resulting in Tonga reaching the semi-final and final in the last two World Cups.
As such, there are set to be a number of players in France this year who have played Test rugby for another country. Here are just some of those...
Vaea Fifita
The game-breaking Scarlets star previously won 11 caps for New Zealand between 2017 and 2019 before switching to the country of his birth, Tonga, last year.
He featured in matches against Spain, Chile and Uruguay last November and will surely feature heavily in Pool B later this year.
Charles Piutau
The Japan-bound full-back was once the highest paid player in England, having moved to Europe after missing out on a place in New Zealand's 2015 World Cup squad.
The 31-year-old won 17 caps for the All Blacks, but has now pledged his allegiance to Tonga. He's won just one cap so far, against Fiji last year, and will be hoping for a first World Cup appearance later on in the year.
Israel Folau
Like Piutau, the controversial Folau made his Tonga debut against Fiji last year. However, he left proceedings early through injury and has yet to win a second cap.
Before his second go at Test rugby though, Folau had won 73 caps for Australia between 2013 and 2019. His Wallabies career came to an abrupt end after he was sacked for writing homophobic posts on social media.
Henry Thomas
The newly called-up Wales tight-head won seven caps for England nearly a decade ago.
Having won his first two caps on the 2013 summer tour of Argentina, he then made appearances against Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy and New Zealand the following year.
However, England appearances dried up, but he qualifies for Wales through his father.
George Moala
The Clermont centre won four caps for New Zealand while with the Auckland Blues in 2015 and 2016, scoring three tries - including one against Wales in a heavy 46-6 victory.
Last year saw him selected to play for Tonga, who he had represented at age-grade level. Like Fifita, he made his debut in the autumn against Spain.
Malakai Fekitoa
Likely to be Moala's midfield partner in France this year is World Cup winner Fekitoa, who won 25 caps for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017 before moving to Europe, spending time at Toulon, Wasps and Munster.
Having served the mandatory stand-down period, Fekitoa changed allegiance to Tonga, the country of his birth. He initially represented them at an Olympics 7s qualifier on 2021 before going on to play Test XVs last year.
Tau Koloamatangi
The former New Zealand U20s prop endured some eligibility drama when Tonga tried to cap him against the All Blacks in 2021. However, he had to be pulled from the side the day before as he had already been capped by Hong Kong.
That's no longer an issue now with the rule changes, with Koloamatangi making his Tonga debut against Spain last year.
Augustine Pulu
The 33-year-old scrum-half won two caps for New Zealand back in 2014, after being a part of the Chiefs' Super Rugby-winning side.
Now plying his trade in Japan with Hino Red Dolphins, he made his debut for Tonga last autumn.
Seta Tamanivalu
The centre won a handful of All Black caps during his time with the Chiefs and Crusaders in Super Rugby, with the last of them coming against Australia in 2016.
Now 31 and playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus, he turned out for Fiji last year - making his debut in the 36-0 win over Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Steven Luatua
The former All Black won 15 caps for New Zealand between 2013 and 2016, having been part of the U20s side that won Junior World Championships in 2010 and 2011.
Before that though, he did also represent Samoa at age-grade level and that's who he's set to resume his Test career with. He was named in their autumn squad last year, only for Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam to break the news he was injured and wouldn't be available. That first cap for Samoa will surely come later this year, though.
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen
The tight-head prop managed just one appearance for the All Blacks, making his debut against Japan in 2013. Another cap never came his way, despite plenty of good Super Rugby form and the odd squad place.
Now at Ulster, he was named in Samoa's autumn squad alongside Luatua last year, making his debut against Italy.
Jack Dempsey
The former Waratahs back-row won 14 caps for Australia between 2017 and 2019, making the last of his appearances in the pool stages of the last World Cup in Japan.
Four years on, he'll be heading back into the showpiece tournament playing for a different nation, having already won nine caps since switching to Scotland. He's a part of Gregor Townsend's 42-man training squad and will be well-placed to make the final selection, given his form for Glasgow.
Byron McGuigan
The Namibian-born winger won 10 caps for Scotland between 2017 and 2020.
He's set to retire from playing this year before taking up a coaching role at current club Sale Sharks. However, he has also announced his intention to play for the country of his birth - meaning he could finish his career at the World Cup in France.
Paolo Odogwu
Technically, the Stade Francais back hasn't needed the eligibility rules to switch nations, as the new Italy call-up hasn't actually been capped by England.
Instead, the former Wasps man was once called in to train when Eddie Jones was in charge, but crucially he didn't play a match.
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