As the recent controversies regarding the eligibility, or otherwise, of certain Welsh players underlines, there is a distinct lack of proper, centrally controlled policing regarding qualification procedures for first and second generation players who declare for their adopted countries.

Despite the increase of these cases, as evidenced by the accompanying table, the absence of International Rugby Board policing effectively leaves the individual players' unions to do the job.

Ireland manager Donal Lenihan admits that this is an inherent flaw in the system. "That's where the thing has fallen down. There's a bit of honour required in that the union themselves are satisfied that the player is eligible. There doesn't seem to be any mechanism for checking."

That said, the Irish manager is confident that Ireland have not circumvented any of the qualification procedures. As a case in point, Lenihan cites the example of Kevin Putt - the Kiwi-born, ex-Springbok scrum-half who played and coached with Terenure and is now playing at London Irish - and who was pursued by the Irish management 18 months ago. The IRFU went to the trouble of establishing Putt's eligibility through the IRB, to be informed that he wasn't eligible.

"He (Putt) had been a resident in Ireland (though only for two years), held an Irish passport and is married to an Irish girl, yet he was ineligible." That is because Putt was unable to provide documented proof that he was of first or second generation Irish stock, a compulsory method of qualifying for one's adopted country unless a player qualifies through the three-year residency rule.

"That is the one at the end of the day," added Lenihan, "whether the player has a parent or grandparent from that country."

In the case of, say, Kevin Maggs, the player himself reveals that he had to provide the IRFU with birth certificates for himself, his mother and his grandmother.

Matt Mostyn, the Australian-born winger, possesses an Irish passport which was granted him by the Australian authorities through documented proof that his mother's father hailed from Aughnacloy. By comparison, the likes of Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Maggs and the Easterbys all qualify through Irish parentage, and generally it's easier to check on the documentation for first generation players.

Holding a passport in itself does not entitle one to qualification for an adopted country under IRB regulations.