Shaun Payne is the latest Southern Hemisphere player to flourish with a maroon passport with Eire (Ireland) on the front. The 27-year-old Durban native has just been granted local player status rights because of his new passport by European Rugby Cup Limited (ERC).

The winger/centre is playing for Swansea in the European Cup and they have successfully registered him as a "home country player". Payne qualifies for Ireland by virtue of an Irish grandmother. His agent has already contacted an IRFU representative and that official confirmed that "like all players who fall into that category - being eligible to play for Ireland - his credentials will be observed first hand."