Tahu is now a Kiwi.
Tahu picked for Maori side
Besieged dual international Timana Tahu's tumultuous year will take another turn next weekend after he was named in the New Zealand Maori side to play England.
Tahu has been picked in the centres for the match against the English, who will use the Mt Smart Stadium clash as a warm-up for the Four Nations tournament.
The 29-year-old, who this week denied claims he had racially slurred an Aboriginal teenager, has previously said he wishes to honour his late father, a Maori, by turning out for the side.
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He approached Parramatta team-mate Justin Horo, whose father is an assistant coach with the Maori, about playing in the match.
Tahu, whose mother is Aboriginal, was this week left out of the Australian squad for the Four Nations, which begins on October 23.
His appearance for the Maori will add to Test matches for the Kangaroos and Wallabies and appearances for NSW in both league and union.
He is also eligible for the Indigenous All Stars side which will play the NRL All Stars on February 12.
Despite his five league Tests, Australian Rugby league boss Geoff Carr has said Tahu is eligible for the Maori because the match against England is not a "full international".
The controversial Parramatta star's selection comes just days after he was accused of calling a 16-year-old opponent a "black c***" in an indigenous knockout competition on the NSW central coast.
Tahu described the claims as "laughable", saying he was paying the price for his stance against the use of the same slur by league great Andrew Johns in the Blues State of Origin camp in June.
Tahu quit the camp in protest at Johns using the offensive phrase to describe Queensland star Greg Inglis.
The Maori-England game will be the curtain-raiser for Four Nations combatants New Zealand's inaugural Test against Samoa on October 16.
A host of NRL stars will be in action after Samoa also announced their team on Friday.
Among those joining Tahu will be Penrith-bound former bad boy Arana Taumata, Panthers pair Sandor Earl and Sam McKendry, Gold Coast's Clinton Toopi and Bodene Thompson and Warrior Kevin Locke.
Samoa's side includes Canterbury half Ben Roberts, Canberra flyer Daniel Vidot and Newcastle forwards Con Mika and Mark Taufua.
NEW ZEALAND MAORI: Kevin Locke (Warriors), Sandor Earl (Penrith), Timana Tahu (Parramatta), Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast), Arana Taumata (North Queensland), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Jeremy Smith (Wakefield), Willie Heta (Otahuhu), Aaron Heremaia (Warriors), Weller Hauraki (Crusaders), Justin Horo (Parramatta), Bodene Thompson (Gold Coast), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne). Interchange: James Tamou (North Queensland), Sam McKendry (Penrith), Russell Packer (Warriors). (One to be added).
SAMOA: (from) Tony Puletua (St Helens), Francis Meli (St Helens), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds), David Faiumu (Huddersfield), David Solomona (Warrington), George Carmont (Wigan), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ben Roberts (Canterbury), Constantine Mika (Newcastle), Mark Taufua (Newcastle), Joseph Paulo (Penrith), Masada Iosefa (Penrith), Terence Seuseu (Manly), Willie Isa (Melbourne), Daniel Vidot (Canberra), Josh McGuire (Brisbane), Taulima Tautai (Cronulla), Quentin Togaga'e (Souths Logan), Frank Winterstein (Crusaders). (One to be added).
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/tahu-picked-for-maori-side-20101008-16bgw.html
