Fiji coach John McKee looks on before the international match between Wales and Fiji at Millennium Stadium© Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Fiji coach John McKee has backed changes to international eligibility regulations after Wasps No.8 Nathan Hughes turned down the chance to represent his side at the World Cup later this year.

Hughes qualifies for Fiji as his country of birth, New Zealand on residency and Samoa due to his mother but is set to play for England when he becomes eligible in June 2016.

Under current regulations a player can turn out for any nation he has resided in for three years, a rule that has seen a number of Southern Hemisphere-born players represent Six Nations sides.

McKee has called on World Rugby to change the regulations as a result of Hughes' snub.

"We're disappointed he's not going to be available for us at the World Cup," McKee told the Daily Mail.

"I travelled around England and France in March and April - meeting about 40 players and coaches face to face - but when Nathan said he wasn't going to be available I decided not to catch up with him in person."

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper admitted this week that the extension of the residency period from three to five may be required to preserve the integrity of the international game and McKee supported this stance.

"The Fijian union would definitely be supportive of an extension to the residency rule,' he said. 'There's a massive threat to the Pacific Islands with players moving offshore. I don't think it should be scrapped completely, because people migrate for genuine reasons, but it could definitely be looked at.

"Professionalism has brought a lot of change and now we've got guys moving to France at 18 years old who go on to play for France. It's for the Rugby Football Union or the French Rugby Federation to decide whether, in five or six years time, they want their team made up of Pacific Islanders or English and French players. That's a question for the unions. What do the public want?

"Nathan's been playing very well for Wasps. I spoke to him prior to the autumn and quite recently on the phone.

"But for any player who has a choice between two countries, there will always be financial considerations. Those finances will always lead a player to England over Fiji because we don't have that sort of money and can't compete. Players don't play for Fiji for money - they do it for the pride of representing their country. There are lots of factors - we've got other talented players and we move on."