More All Blacks want to play for Pacific Island nations

Former All Blacks Ma'a Nonu, Steven Luatua and Victor Vito have joined Charles Piutau and Frank Halai as players linked to a switch to Pacific Island nations for the next Rugby World Cup.

Piutau and Halai, who both have Tongan ancestry, want World Rugby to loosen the eligibility rules to allow capped players to return to tier‑two nations.

An identical policy has been introduced in rugby league and the Daily Mail reports that Nonu and Vito could also make themselves available for Samoa under the proposals.

Piutau says if there's a way to do it, he wants to give something back and play for Tonga at the 2019 World Cup.

Tonga are in the same pool as England for the World Cup.

Piutau adds that he had told the Tongan coach he would be on board if there's a way to do it and if rugby union followed the rugby league model, it would be a massive boost for the Pacific Islands and it would make the world stage competitive again.

Piutau will become the highest paid rugby union player in the world when he joins Bristol next season for £1 million per year.