Is he even English qualified?
Apparently so, but not, so it'll be on residency:
Leicester Tigers' Kiwi No.8 Thomas Waldrom chases england dream
Thomas Waldrom
Leicester Tigers' Kiwi No.8
Thomas Waldrom has revealed he is keen to realise a World Cup dream – playing for England.
The 27-year-old has made a massive impact since joining the Tigers from the Canterbury Crusaders at the start of the season.
After finding out relatives on his family tree were not only from England but also from Leicester, Waldrom says he would gladly accept an offer from England manager
Martin Johnson to take the field with a red rose on his chest once his three-year qualifying period had been completed.
With the 17-stone back-rower lighting up the Aviva Premiership at present, and England's current incumbent Nick Easter turning 33 this year, Waldrom's hopes of "playing at the highest level" may well come true.
"I know I have to wait three years for the chance but, if the opportunity came up, I would be interested," he said. "I will wait, do my three years and, if I am playing well and they want me, we will see what happens.
"I have a namesake on the family tree, Thomas Waldrom, who is from England. But I didn't know that until I signed up to come here.
"I agreed to come to Leicester as my grandparents were doing a family tree and they found out I had some heritage here in Leicester, which was amazing.
"I am not sure how many generations ago it was, but I think it was on my grandfather's side.
"My parents are coming over to England in April and they are going to bring the family tree over and try and find some more out."
While a distant relative is not enough to qualify a player for national duty – a parent or grandparent is – regulation 8.1 of the IRB's rules of the game says Waldrom could play for an adopted country if: "He has completed 36 consecutive months of residence immediately preceding the time of playing."
Waldrom's Tigers team-mates from
New Zealand,
Craig Newby and
Scott Hamilton, are ineligible for England cap because they have represented the All Blacks side at senior level. The back-rower has never made it into the New Zealand side.
And his ambition to play at national level is still a fierce driving force.
"As a professional player, you want to play to the highest standard you can and one of my goals was always to go to a World Cup," he said.
"I am only 27 and I have an open mind to it. I haven't managed that in my career so it would be good if that chance came up.
"It (playing for England) could be a possibility."
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co....and-dream/article-3262668-detail/article.html
