Deep in the ranks of the Leinster Academy lies yet another unearthed outhalf by the name of Caspar Gabriel, who has been tipped as one of the hottest prospects to emerge from Ireland’s decorated schools system.
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Born in Austria to Austrian parents, the Leinster man has taken an unconventional path to the academy system, attending school and playing rugby at Terenure College, before being signed into the Leinster Rugby academy and advancing from schools rugby to Terenure College RFC’s AIL side.
The Austrian, who we understand holds neither an Irish passport nor official residency, was the subject of a glowing piece in the Sunday Times back in September by Peter O’Reilly and the Irish Independent identified him as one of the its rugby players to watch for 2025.
. 31 July 2024; Ross Byrne, left, and Casper Gabriel during a Leinster rugby training session at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Yet despite representing Ireland at U19 level last year, Gabriel was not selected in Neil Doak’s squad last week as his eligibility issues still need to be ironed out.
Here’s an explainer on his eligibility situation.
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Ireland U20s omission
Having played for the Ireland U19s less than a year ago, there were hopes that Caspar Gabriel would be selected to represent Ireland in the upcoming U20s Six Nations, however, that has proved not to be the case, with Gabriel missing out on selection in Neil Doak’s squad because of those eligibility issues.
At the heart of that issue is Gabriel’s return to Austria during his time in Terenure College during covid.
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How did he play Ireland at U19 level?
So how did he represent Ireland in an U19 clash with Wales last year, you ask? While both U20 and senior international competitions are governed by World Rugby’s eligibility rules, U19 competitions are not. They are effectively fixtures arranged between two rugby unions, with eligibility at the discretion of each nation. This opened the door to Gabriel playing for the Ireland U19s in 2024.
What are the eligibility rules at play?
World Rugby was two eligibility rules that could impact Gabriel’s Ireland eligibility.
World Rugby Regulation 8 requires players who aren’t citizens of the country they intend to represent to be continuously resident in that country for 60 months (five years) before playing for them. We understand that continuous time frame was broken when he returned to the country of his birth during covid in 2020.
There is the possibility that Regulation 8 (19) could apply. The rule stipulates that students who are not financially independent and are resident as a full-time student in a country other than that of their parental home – are for eligibility purposes not resident in the country in which they are studying, but temporarily absent from their parental home.
When could Gabriel become eligible for Ireland?
This is the great question. O’Reilly’s article from September made it clear that Leinster were hoping his eligibility could be confirmed this year in order to represent the Ireland U20s this month. That didn’t happen, and IRFU spokesperson confirmed was ineligible to selected for the U20s Six Nations.
There is the U20s World Championship this summer, so perhaps there is a chance we could see him represent the U20s this summer.
Hopefully we see Caspar Gabriel in the green of Ireland sooner rather than later. Watch this space.
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The post Trying To Explain When Austrian-Born Phenom Caspar Gabriel Becomes Ireland-Eligible first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-20 23:19:24
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