Welsh Rugby
IRB ties Shingler to Wales
ESPN Staff
May 16, 2012
London Irish's Steven Shingler looks to spread the ball, Edinburgh v London Irish, Heineken Cup, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, January 22, 2012
Steve Shingler is tied to Wales and not Scotland © Getty Images
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The International Rugby Board has stuck to their original decision and has ruled that Steven Shingler is solely eligible for Wales.

The IRB ruled back in January that Shingler was Wales' player despite Scotland naming the London Irish back in their squad for the 2012 Six Nations. Shingler played for Wales' Under-20 side back in 2011 in a match that was designated as their next senior representative team thus seeingly tying him to Wales.

Scotland, however, named Shingler in their squad for the Six Nations believing that an appearance for Wales' Under-20 side was not enough to tie a player to a nation. Wales appealed to the IRB for clarification and the organisation originally ruled in favour of them only for Scotland to then appeal the decision. However, the IRB considered the matter at their annual meeting in Dublin and came up on the side of Wales once again.

"Council, having considered all the facts and having heard submissions from the SRU and WRU legal representatives, dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the IRB regulations committee," the IRB said. "The Council therefore determined that Steven Shingler is tied to Wales in accordance with IRB Regulation 8 and therefore is ineligible to represent another Union."

The SRU responded saying: "Scottish Rugby is disappointed by the IRB Council's decision to dismiss the appeal concerning the international eligibility of Steven Shingler. We have sought throughout the process to support Steven in his earnest desire to play for Scotland.

"We will now await full explanation from the IRB and will discuss with Steven and his advisors what other avenues may be open to him. Under those circumstances Scottish Rugby will be making no further comment on this matter."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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