By Graham Thomas

FORMER Ireland captain Rhys Ruddock is ready to re-ignite his international career – by dramatically switching to Wales.

Ruddock has won 27 caps for Ireland, but the last of those was earned almost three years ago against France.

The Leinster back row forward was born in Dublin, but could become the first player to be capped by both countries in February under changes in the rules brought in two years ago.

➡️He made 48 metres (Most for a forward)
➡️Made 14 tackles without a miss (most for Ireland)
➡️Scored One try

The @Mastercard Player of the Match for #IREvRUS was Rhys Ruddock! #POTM #StartSomethingPriceless #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/rLJJNz1kff

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 3, 2019

His father, former Grand Slam-winning Wales coach Mike Ruddock, said: “It’s not for me to tell Wales who to select, but purely as a father I would love to see him pull on a red jersey.

“It’s where he grew up as a rugby player, he played for Wales U18s before his life took a different turn and I’m sure he would add a huge amount of experience and leadership qualities to that squad.

“I think a lot of people would love to see him back playing his rugby in Wales again.”

Those updated rules allow capped players to play for a different country, provided three years have elapsed since their last Test and they tick all the regular boxes.

https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1179753380736053249?s=20

Ruddock’s eligibility for the majority of the upcoming Six Nations will be of major interest to Wales coach Warren Gatland, who is without injured back rowers Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan and Christ Tshiunza.

The 33-year-old – who has a Welsh-born father and grandparents – will be available to Gatland from February 14, three years after he last played for Ireland.

That would make him an option for the final three matches of the tournament, ironically starting with the clash against Ireland in Dublin on February 24.

Wales then have home games against France and Italy to finish the championship before a summer tour to Australia.

Lions star Faletau has not played since the World Cup in October, when he broke his arm, while Morgan has recently undergone knee surgery and Tshiunza has a broken foot.

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1620391947264212993?s=20

That leaves Gatland short of know-how, size, power and a winning mentality – all of which Ruddock has in abundance after a decade playing for Leinster and Ireland.

The blindside flanker was capped as a 19-year-old in 2010 – captained Ireland on six occasions – and has won two Six Nations titles as well as three European Champions Cup crowns and six URC titles with Leinster.

His tally of 224 matches for European powerhouse Leinster places him fifth on the province’s all-time appearance list.

Most of the leading nations have made use of the revised eligibility rules in recent years, including Wales who capped Henry Thomas last year nine years after he played for England.

Congrats to @leinsterrugby legend Rhys Ruddock who won his 200th Leinster cap tonight and captained his team to a hard fought win over ah excellent @LionsRugbyCo team #LEIvLIO https://t.co/GXEapYhgGk

— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) February 25, 2022