Wallabies star Quade Cooper is among those set to find it easier to gain Australian citizenship, with the Australian Government tweaking eligibility rules for some visa holders.
The Kiwi-born fly-half moved to Australia when he was 13, and made his 71st appearance for the Wallabies on Sunday, with a match-winning penalty against the Springboks.
However, Cooper has complained that he has been knocked back for Australian citizenship four times because his touring schedule and two years spent playing in Japan meant he had not met residency requirements.
The current rules dictate that an aspiring Australian citizen cannot be absent from Australia for more than 12 months in the four years prior to lodging their application.
ABC News reports that this morning, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced changes for the "most talented prospective Australians".
Without explicitly mentioning Cooper, Hawke says exemptions to residency requirements would be allowed, with the pool of potential applicants including artists, scientists and leading business people.
Cooper is once again likely to feature for the Wallabies when they face South Africa at 7.05pm this Saturday.
The All Blacks will face Argentina at 10.05pm Saturday.
[Source: ABC]
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