RLWC

After featuring at the Four Nations tournament at the end of last season, Leuluai expected the pool play clash against Scotland – where he suffered a broken jaw midway through the match – would be his 36th and final Test for New Zealand.

But this week he spoke of his joy when coach David Kidwell confirmed he would be part of the 24-man squad despite the selection of UK-based Kiwi players being almost unheard in the current international environment.

The NZRL confirmed Foran's new club, the Canterbury Bulldogs, have made him unavailable for the World Cup so he can recover from a quad and back strain he played through for the majority of the 2017 season with the Warriors.

The Kiwis co-host the World Cup alongside Australia and Papaua New Guinea.

The tournament kicks off at the end of next month.