The goal posts have suddenly changed for frustrated Australian duo Brock James and Blair Connor in their bid to represent France at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

A week after being named in France’s preliminary squad, tightened rules announced by the International Rugby Board (IRB) now require the pair to feature in at least half of the eight-round World Sevens series starting in October for their adopted country if they wish to switch their allegiances by the World Cup.

The IRB said if the pair could not honour that they must compete in at least half of the Olympic qualifying program and turn out at the 2016 Rio Games where rugby sevens is making its debut.

To boot, the IRB’s new edict states players who fail in their application to switch allegiance will be barred from reverting to their original team.

It is a stunning about face after the IRB’s initial eligibility rule changes stated a player could represent a country provided they have the correct passport and had not been capped by another team for 18 months.

Under the previous eligibility rules, an appearance in just one Olympic sevens qualification event could lead to a player being selected for that nation’s 15-a-side team.

It seems to have shut the door on James – one of the highest paid Australians in world rugby – and Connor running out for France at the World Cup barely a week after being named in an initial 74-strong squad.

Sydney-raised five-eighth James (Clermont-Auvergne) and ex-Queensland Reds flyer Connor (Union Bordeaux) are both starring in Europe and their French Top 14 sides are unlikely to let them skip club duty and run out in the World Sevens series in order to earn a Cup nod.

James, 32, has become one of European rugby’s biggest names since moving overseas in 2006 but is relatively unknown in his home country.

He has helped Clermont-Auvergne claim the European Challenge Cup in 2007, the Top 14 title in 2010, and was part of their Heineken Cup final loss to Matt Giteau’s Toulon in 2013.

The IRB decision won’t just affect the Aussie pair.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre named 10 foreigners in his initial 74-strong squad after a disastrous 2013 campaign in which Les Bleus lost 13 of their 19 matches.

Among those affected by the tightened IRB rules are England’s Steffon Armitage and Kiwi Alex Tulou.