Anderson makes Tonga switch

Warrington second rower takes advantage of RLIF rules

Last updated: 11th October 2008

Anderson makes Tonga switch

Anderson: Switching allegiance

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Louis Anderson has won the right to change his allegiance from New Zealand to Tonga in time to play for the latter in the upcoming World Cup.

The 23-year-old Warrington second rower won 13 caps for the Kiwis but, bar injury, will now make his debut for Tonga against Ireland in Australia on October 27.

Rugby League International Federation rules state that players who are eligible to play for more than one country can make one application to switch their allegiance in any two-year period.

On Friday evening, the RLIF executive cleared both Anderson, who finished the Super League season with an arm injury, and Antonio Kaufusi to play for Tonga.

Permission was also given for another New Zealander, Ben Roberts, to play for Samoa, while Australian Jarryd Hayne can represent Fiji.

But NRL duo Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki both lost their bids to play for Tonga, a year after successfully switching to New Zealand.