BBC’s Tom English answers your Scottish rugby questions

BBC Scotland’s chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your Scottish rugby questions.

Michael asked: If a player becomes eligible to play for a country through the residency rule, shouldn’t they become ineligible if they move to another country?

Tom answered: That’s a really, really interesting question and not one I’d thought about before. I think I’d be in favour. If you qualify on the residency rule you’re only allowed to play while resident in your adopted country.

Let’s tease it out with Duhan van der Merwe as an example. He was offered massive money by Worcester a few years back. His decision, in this scenario, would be to take Worcester’s money and halt his international career or turn down the extra cash to protect his Test status.

We would have found out how important playing for Scotland is to him if that rule was in place back then. As we know, he went and then came back.

I’m sure Gregor Townsend would hate the rule because if the Tom Jordans and the Van der Merwes take the money he would lose them from his squad. Brilliant question that contains a fascinating dilemma.