Posolo Tuilagi still not selectable for the Blues: the great hope of rugby still does not have a French passport

Le joueur de l'Usap ne pourra pas encore postuler à une sélection avec les Bleus. L'INDEPENDANT – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

The second row of Perpignan Posolo Tuilagi cannot be selected for the Six Nations Tournament by the XV of France, not yet having a French passport, AFP learned from his club on Friday, confirming information from The Independent.

Among the contenders for the second line position in Blue, the 19-year-old player, world champion with the French under-20 team last summer but born in Samoa, does not yet have a French passport.

This administrative document is imperative to wear the French XV jersey since 2016 and the arrival of Bernard Laporte at the head of the French Rugby Federation.

President of the FFR from 2016 to 2023, Laporte declared shortly after his election that he had "made the political decision to no longer play foreign players in the national team".

Meafou will be able to apply for selection 

The powerful second line of Perpignan will therefore have to wait to obtain his passport to play his first minutes with the XV of France, just like what he did known the Toulouse resident Emmanuel Meafou. The second line of Australian origin was unable to participate in the 2023 World Cup with the Blues, having not yet obtained French nationality.

But he obtained his naturalization last November and is expected to be called up in the list of 34 players that Fabien Galthié will announce on Wednesday.

Not selectable, Posolo Tuilagi could however be called up during the 2024 6 Nations Tournament to participate in training for the French XV, or even compete with the French under-20 team years, with which holding a French passport is not obligatory.