Tonga's hopes have been dealt another major blow with Parramatta's Fuifui Moimoi and the Wests Tigers' Taniela Tuiaki both ruled ineligible to represent to the Pacific Island nation in the Rugby League World Cup.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) said today the pair could not play for
Tonga because they had played for New Zealand last year.
RLIF rules allow only one application to change allegiance in any two years and Moimoi and Tuiaki had both used that already to switch from Tonga to the Kiwis for the 2007 tour of England and France, a statement from World Cup organisers said.
The double blow comes a day after Tonga lost Cronulla-bound forward Anthony Tupou to Australia.
Tupou had been named in the Tongan squad after originally being overlooked by the Kangaroos but an injury to Michael Crocker resulted in him being recalled by Australia.
"Under RLIF rules, players who are eligible to play for more than one country must elect which country they will represent," the RLIF statement read.
"Once this has been done, a player may not change his election until the completion of the next World Cup, or after having not represented that country for two years.
"A player is allowed only one application under this rule in any two-year period.
"In 2007 the RLIF executive had approved applications from both Moimoi and Tuiaki to change their country of election from Tonga to New Zealand.
"This was approved and each played for the Kiwis in last year's tour of England and France.
"A separate application from the two players was also tabled last night seeking to change their election a second time to again be available for Tonga for the 2008 World Cup.
"This application was rejected."
The RLIF approved applications from four players to switch allegiance - Ben Roberts (Samoa), Jarryd Hayne (Fiji), Louis Anderson (Tonga) and Antonio Kaufusi (Tonga).
- AAP
