Always hated the rule around qualification. If you play at any level for one country, schoolboy upwards, that should be it. Played 24 times for England u21 so he is still eligible for Ireland-laughable. In fact whilst I am ranting, if you are not born in a country or have one or other parent from a country, you should not be able to play for that country. Grandparents, aunties, uncles, residence and being related to the pixies down the end of the garden should not count and that includes cricket mercenaries. Am not nationalistic, its just a mockery.
You should be proud to play for YOUR country, not just pick any country because you cant get into the side. Not very patriotic!, To be honest I think pennant is a really good player but the more I read about him personally, the more I dislike him.
The whole rule needs a re-think, if you aren't born in that certain country then you shouldn't play for them at any level. This happens quite a lot in rugby league, rugby union, cricket and also football. All the best to Jermaine though, he's found a loop-hole so I can only wish him the best. Why couldn't he have Scottish grandparents? At least then he may have pushed Kris Co***** out of the Scotland squad.
Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce are prime examples, both have played for England despite being as Irish as Guinness, Joyce has since gone back to playing for Ireland mind, the Morgan one is a bit of a farce I admit. Talking of Rugby, didn't Henry Paul swap codes and then play for England in Rugby Union albeit not winning a lot of caps?
He did indeed Tom. Henry Paul has done it and also other player swapping codes that aren't English that have played for England are Shontayne Hape and aldo Lesley Vainikolo. It's happened in rugby league as well, not at youth level but Danny Brough played a few times for Scotland back in 2008 and now due to him excelling and being a very good five-eighth that he was going to be, England decided to call him up and because Scotland aren't a test playing side despite them playing against England, New Zealand and Australia in the Rugby League World Cup he is now in the England Elite squad.
No way hossay! I actually thought that Whelan was doing O.K.ish for Stoke, until he got called into the Irish squad, same with Lawrence. Pennant as a player, I really like him but IF he does eventually play it makes a mockery of " playing for your'e country" Smashing player but I'll be quite happy if he keeps peforming for Stoke and no one else.