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Kemble sweats on eligibility
Oct 2, 2007
Kiwis coach Gary Kemble faces a nervous wait ahead of an international league meeting on Wednesday as two of his squad bid for eligibility to play for New Zealand.
Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki are desperate to make their debuts for the Kiwis against Australia later this month in Wellington.
However the in-form NRL pair are not eligible yet after playing for Tonga last year in a bid to help the country qualify for the World Cup.
"All the Tongan boys, they want to play for Tonga but they always want to play for the Kiwis first," said Moimoi.
But international rules do allow players to switch countries under special circumstances.
A ruling in their favour would cap a remarkable season for Moimoi, who signed a new two-year deal with the Eels on Tuesday. He even declined an approach from the Kangaroo selectors thanks partly due to some "gentle" persuasion from Kiwis selector Darrell Williams and his Tongan flatmate.
"I already told Darrell I'd sort him out for the black and whites so it's all good," said Tuiaki.