Grannygate Brett is back for Wales

13 April 2012

New Zealander Brett Sinkinson was formally reinstated to the Wales squad yesterday, 18 months after being exposed in the ?Grannygate? scandal.

He returns against Romania next week as a bona fide Welshman under the three-year residency qualification. By strange coincidence, today marks the third anniversary of the false claim which ultimately resulted in him being drummed out of international rugby.

Sinkinson said: ?It?s great to be back. It?s great to have the chance to re-establish myself as an international and do everything possible to help Wales.

?Playing for Wales was the best thing that ever happened to me. When it all blew up I thought about going home but the support of the Welsh people and the hope that I could play for Wales again kept me going.?

At 30, he will be back on the openside of the back row next week, winning his 15th cap and renewing a career interrupted days after Wales had been smashed by England at Twickenham two seasons ago. Within days, Sinkinson, another Welsh player, full back Shane Howarth, and Scotland prop David Hilton had been accused of playing for their countries under false pretences.

Hilton will be eligible to start again with Scotland under the residency rule from next season. Howarth hopes to do likewise with Wales when he will be 34 but, as a capped All Black, he is threatened by a tightening of rules preventing players representing more than one country.

Ironically, Sinkinson now takes his place alongside Neath colleague Allan Bateman, the one current Wales international to criticise coach Graham Henry for picking ineligible players.

Bateman said: ?When they were rumbled, I didn?t feel any sympathy. We all assumed their claims had been checked and that they were eligible. Now that Brett is qualified, I have no problem about him playing for Wales.

?He could have just gone home. He was under a lot of pressure although he brought it on himself. But he had the guts to stick out, and that shows commitment to the Welsh cause.?

Sinkinson arrived in Wales from Auckland in September 1998, within weeks of Henry, formerly Auckland?s coach, making the same journey. After one match Henry asked if Sinkinson was eligible for Wales. When they picked him later that season, the new flanker claimed he had a Welsh grandfather.

The truth was that Sydney Sinkinson came from Oldham before emigrating.

David Young will lead a side who will feature either Stephen Jones or the uncapped Gavin Henson at stand off while Neil Jenkins recovers from knee trouble.

The Romanian RU wants to ban four of their players from turning out for their French clubs, who will not release them for next week?s international. The union has asked the International Board to ban captain Florin Corodean, his Aurillac team- mate Valentin Maftei and Grenoble forwards Petru Balan and Ovidiu Tonita from club duty for the period they would have spent with their country.

WALES: Backs: Morgan (Swansea), Williams (Cardiff), Thomas, James, Durston (Bridgend), Gibbs (Swansea), Bateman (Neath), Jones (Llanelli), Henson ( Swansea), Howley (Cardiff), G Cooper (Bath).

Forwards: Thomas (Ebbw Vale), Lewis (Cardiff), McBryde (Llanelli), Williams (Neath), Young ( C a r d i f f, capt) , Anthony (Newport), Wyatt (Llanelli), Griffiths, Moore, Charvis ( Swansea), Popham (Newport), Thomas (Bath), Ringer (Bridgend), Sinkinson (Neath), Lewis (Swansea).

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Grannygate Brett is back for Wales

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