Kiwis Team For Rugby League World Cup

PRESS RELEASE

Kiwis Team For Rugby League World Cup

Auckland, New Zealand, October 8, 2013 - Five players from the NRL grand final, including four from the champion Sydney Roosters side, feature in the 24-man Kiwis squad named today to defend the Rugby League World Cup. 

The starting props for the Roosters - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa – will both pack their bags for the UK, as will their clubmates Frank-Paul Nu’uausala and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Kieran Foran is the sole representative from Sunday’s beaten finalists, the Manly Sea Eagles.

Moa and Tuivasa-Sheck are the only uncapped players in the Kiwis squad. Moa’s selection continues a breakthrough year for the 2003/2004 Junior Kiwi, while Tuivasa-Sheck, who was 18th man for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos this year in Canberra, is the youngest in the team at 20. Tohu Harris, at 21, is another in the squad to have risen through the ranks quickly, having only made his first grade debut this year for the Melbourne Storm.

The Kiwis will be captained by Simon Mannering, who is one of seven Vodafone Warriors representatives in the team. With 30 Tests, Mannering is also the equal-most experienced player in the side, alongside Thomas Leuluai.

The Kiwis squad averages 10 Tests per player, with Frank Pritchard (24 Tests), Issac Luke (23) and the recalled Manu Vatuvei (20) among those bringing plenty of international experience. Bryson Goodwin, Kevin Locke and Nu’uausala also return to international rugby league, after not having featured for the Kiwis recently.

There are seven players from the 2008 World Cup-winning squad. They are Mannering, Vatuvei, Leuluai, Luke, Jason Nightingale, Krisnan Inu and Greg Eastwood.

Players who weren’t considered for World Cup selection included Shaun Kenny-Dowall (due to a jaw injury suffered in Sunday’s NRL grand final), Jeremy Smith (personal matters) and Sonny Bill Williams (other commitments).

2013 KIWIS – RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP SQUAD

The Kiwis assemble in Sydney this weekend and will train at the Sydney Academy of Sport & Recreation in Narrabeen at 10am Sunday (media details to follow) before flying to the UK on Monday. They begin their tour with a pre-RLWC match against the Cook Islands on October 20 (UK-time) in Doncaster. 

KIWIS/RLWC - SKY TV COVERAGE

New Zealand v Samoa – Monday 28 October – 6.45am - SKY Sport 2
New Zealand v France – Saturday 2 November – 7.30am - SKY Sport 2
New Zealand v Papua New Guinea – Saturday 9 November – 8.30am - SKY Sport 2

Quarter Final 1 – Saturday 16 November – 8.30am - SKY Sport 2
Quarter Final 2 – Sunday 17 November – 1.45am - SKY Sport 2
Quarter Final 3 – Sunday 17 November – 8.45am - SKY Sport 2
Quarter Final 4 – Monday 18 November – 3.45am - SKY Sport 2
Semi Final 1 – Sunday 24 November – 1.30am - SKY Sport 2
Semi Final 2 – Sunday 24 November – 4.15am - SKY Sport 2
Final – Sunday 1 December – 3.00am - SKY Sport 2

ENDS

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