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Kiwis pair Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki have been cleared to make their test debuts against Australia after a prolonged sitting of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) executive.
The RLIF said it had granted them an exemption to play for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos in Wellington on October 14, for the subsequent tour of Britain and France and next year's World Cup in Australia.
The pair, who are flatmates in Sydney, needed clearance to switch allegiance after representing Tonga last year in a World Cup qualifying match.
"The rules clearly state that the RLIF has the power to grant an exemption and there were compelling arguments on behalf of the players in favour of a discretion being exercised in their favour," the RLIF statement said.
"If the applications were denied it would have resulted in a restraint which caused significant hardship and a significant penalty to these players."
Tongan coach Jim Dymock also supported the pair's application, saying he wouldn't object to the pair playing for the Kiwis.
The RLIF executive is made up of Australian Rugby League (ARL) chairman Colin Love, New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chairman Andrew Chalmers and British Rugby Football League (RFL) chairman Richard Lewis.
Their decision was drawn out over two days in Sydney, after lawyers were called in to examine the fine print of the international rules today.
The RLIF statement said the pair would have been able to switch to the Kiwis for next year's World Cup without needing an exemption, as it would be two years since they represented Tonga.
Wests Tigers wing Tuiaki qualifies for the Kiwis through birth in New Zealand while Parramatta prop Moimoi represented New Zealand A in 2002 and lived in Auckland for seven years, thereby satisfying the residency qualification.
Both were named in coach Gary Kemble's 19-man test squad on Sunday.
Today's decision saved more embarrassment for the NZRL after the Nathan Fien debacle a year ago saw him pulled from the Kiwis Tri-Nations squad when it was revealed his grandmother wasn't New Zealand-born, as previously claimed by the NZRL.
The Kiwis assemble in Auckland tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the RLIF also accepted a Samoan request that former Kiwis Nigel Vagana, Tony Puletua and lafeta Paleaaesina be allowed to play for Samoa in the World Cup.
Vagana retired from test football after last year's Tri-Nations but he, Puletua and Paleaaesina said they had strong cultural and family ties to Samoa and wanted to take a rare opportunity to represent their country in international competition.
The NZRL supported their application.
The RLIF said it had granted them an exemption to play for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos in Wellington on October 14, for the subsequent tour of Britain and France and next year's World Cup in Australia.
The pair, who are flatmates in Sydney, needed clearance to switch allegiance after representing Tonga last year in a World Cup qualifying match.
"The rules clearly state that the RLIF has the power to grant an exemption and there were compelling arguments on behalf of the players in favour of a discretion being exercised in their favour," the RLIF statement said.
"If the applications were denied it would have resulted in a restraint which caused significant hardship and a significant penalty to these players."
Tongan coach Jim Dymock also supported the pair's application, saying he wouldn't object to the pair playing for the Kiwis.
The RLIF executive is made up of Australian Rugby League (ARL) chairman Colin Love, New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chairman Andrew Chalmers and British Rugby Football League (RFL) chairman Richard Lewis.
Their decision was drawn out over two days in Sydney, after lawyers were called in to examine the fine print of the international rules today.
The RLIF statement said the pair would have been able to switch to the Kiwis for next year's World Cup without needing an exemption, as it would be two years since they represented Tonga.
Wests Tigers wing Tuiaki qualifies for the Kiwis through birth in New Zealand while Parramatta prop Moimoi represented New Zealand A in 2002 and lived in Auckland for seven years, thereby satisfying the residency qualification.
Both were named in coach Gary Kemble's 19-man test squad on Sunday.
Today's decision saved more embarrassment for the NZRL after the Nathan Fien debacle a year ago saw him pulled from the Kiwis Tri-Nations squad when it was revealed his grandmother wasn't New Zealand-born, as previously claimed by the NZRL.
The Kiwis assemble in Auckland tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the RLIF also accepted a Samoan request that former Kiwis Nigel Vagana, Tony Puletua and lafeta Paleaaesina be allowed to play for Samoa in the World Cup.
Vagana retired from test football after last year's Tri-Nations but he, Puletua and Paleaaesina said they had strong cultural and family ties to Samoa and wanted to take a rare opportunity to represent their country in international competition.
The NZRL supported their application.
