Are my children eligible to represent Wales?

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

Was just watching the European Championships and then got into reading about Zharnel Hughes and why he is eligible to represent Team GB. All really interesting (I’d never even heard of Anguilla!) but it set us off wondering about our own children’s eligibility.

As English born, England living in, British citizens they are definitely eligible for Team GB and for England in (say) the Commonwealth games.

Our debate is whether they are eligible to represent Wales. The rules are you either have to be Welsh born or “have a Welsh parent” and this is where we are unsure:-

Dh - two Welsh born and bred parents, lived in Wales for the first 19 years of his life, went to school in Wales and represented Wales at his chosen sport. Now lives in England with his English wife (aka me!)

However he was born in England. (Parents lived close to the border and nearest maternity hospital was on “the other side”.)

So is he Welsh?

I’m wondering if he is the nationality version of self id transgender - he may feel Welsh but his paperwork does not back this up.

He is very cross with me and is currently muttering (all six that he can remember!) Welsh phrases at me.

So what do people reckon? (NB All very theoretical as kids are still in lower primary school. Although with a dad that is an ex-junior international and an uncle who was a commonwealth medalist - for Wales! - probably less theoretical than for most.)

Its parents and grandparents - Zola Budd got UK citizenship through her GPs.

Interesting. 2 welsh born parents for me although I was born in Singapore (army brat). Lived in Wales most of my adult life but I definitely consider myself Welsh.
Different circumstances for my children tho (not that either would be representing Wales, although a distant cousin does play rugby in the national team) because they were born here but have an English father. Both consider themselves very Welsh!

Its parents and grandparents - Zola Budd got UK citizenship through her GPs.

Not according to the Team Wales Commonwealth Games Selection Handbook (I’ve been googling!)

You have to have “A Welsh Parent” if you are not born in Wales. Unless having two parents born in Wales makes dh Welsh.....

I don’t think they are, OP. Your DH’s story sounds similar to Michael Owen’s (born in England, in Chester, and grew up in Flintshire in Wales), who most definitely played for England.

Yes they are.
A single grandparent born in Wales is enough. DH is technically eligible as his Grandma was born in Cardiff.

If however you represent England at some point you can't then switch to Wales I think. There are rules about that!

Or maybe my answer is only true for Rugby.

I don’t think they are, OP. Your DH’s story sounds similar to Michael Owen’s (born in England, in Chester, and grew up in Flintshire in Wales), who most definitely played for England.

That is incredibly close to the situation.

But were Michael Owen’s parents Welsh? And did Michael Owen play for England because he wasn’t eligible to play for Wales or because he chose to play for England? We know dh was eligible (because he did represent Wales) - just not sure about the kids.

If however you represent England at some point you can't then switch to Wales I think. There are rules about that!

This one I do know about! As a junior you can switch about to your hearts content as long as you are eligible. Once you are a senior then you can switch but you have to wait a certain amount of time - 2 years comes to mind. And I think you have you actually live in your new country during that time.

Yes I'd agree with that Mum. I know people have played international Rugby for Japan after playing for New Zealand. Talupe Faletau qualifies for Wales under residence. I also remember GrannyGate when it turned out some of the Welsh imports couldn't prove their Welsh granny.

Yes I'd agree with that Mum. I know people have played international Rugby for Japan after playing for New Zealand. Talupe Faletau qualifies for Wales under residence. I also remember GrannyGate when it turned out some of the Welsh imports couldn't prove their Welsh granny.

The rather fabulous Chris Froome used to ride for Kenya!

My kids can definitely prove their Welsh granny (although being Welsh she goes by Nanna!)

Ds has just learnt to say tad cu for granddad. :)

I have a welsh parent and I competed for wales in a sport. different sports have different rules. Sometimes competing for one country can stop you competing for another further down the road, so if the is more than a pipe dream get lots of advice. One country may fund a sport another may not which may mean you have more chance if representing them. On the other hand one many not enter at all in a sport and only fund a certain number of athletes to go to say the com games

I'm English as is DH but all four of ours were born in Wales and have Welsh (beautiful ) birth certificates. We consider them Welsh, tho we now live back in England. I rather hoped they'd play for Wales one day but only DD12 is sporty and I suspect snowboarding isn't much of a national sport