[Barrie Yates]

It does apply in most sports - Football, Rugby (both codes), cricket, athletics, tennis and no doubt many more.
If there is to be a level playing field then let it apply across all sports and all nations. Look at Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia and former Russian States in football.
To my mind, if anyone becomes a British (English) citizen with a British Passport then they are eligible to represent the country of which they are a citizen.