The news will come as a bitter personal blow to Piutau, who must now wait until the following World Cup cycle to play for Tonga.
Piutau was the top try scorer for the New Zealand Under-20s in their 2011 World Championship winning campaign. "Obviously, the focus is with them - I don’t want it to be on myself - and I want to leave on a high. "It got ruled out a couple of months ago," Kefu told Stuff.
"I've caught up with over the past couple of years and I've spoken over the phone, through messages and emails and he very passionately wants to play for Tonga and he saw the World Cup next year as a massive opportunity to do that, and also to play under his brother [Siale], who is going to be captain," Kefu said. In 2010, Piutau represented Tonga at the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. Kefu lamented the game's eligibility rules and the need for players to go through the Sevens route. Fullback Charles Piutau expressed confidence in returning back to international rugby after he was approached by Tonga with the 2019 World Cup in mind. The former All Black had desperately wanted to represent Tonga at next year's global showpiece but Stuff can reveal that those hopes have been shattered. Piutau was unable to add to his 17 Test caps for All Blacks due to New Zealand's policy of not selecting players plying their trade overseas with his last appearance coming in July 2015. "It"s just an extra hoop we don't need players to jump through - the three years alone, stand-down, is fine. "We were actively exploring a group of players, not just Charles, that were in the same boat and whether we could qualify them before the World Cup, and we can't. "I don't think there are any integrity issues there. Despite the disappointment, Kefu said we hopeful of persuading some other Tongan-qualified players in New Zealand of joining their World Cup campaign, nominating Blues lock/blindside Jimmy Tupou, Hurricanes lock Sam Lousi and Highlanders prop Siate Tokolahi as three players he had his eye on.Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua quit the All Blacks to make a better life in England.Charles Piutau has served a three-year stand-down period but still can't play for Tonga.
The 26-year-old earned 17 test caps for New Zealand between 2013 and 2015, but was overlooked for the last World Cup squad after signing for Ulster. The All Blacks said Piutau's impending move played no role in their decision and was based on form, although Piutau was named man of the match in the All Blacks' 27-20 win against the Springboks in Johannesburg in July, 2015, just months before the World Cup . Source: Photosport
At present, players such as Piutau must observe a three-year stand-down period after their most recent test, and then qualify for Tonga by playing in an Olympics qualification tournament in Sevens rugby. "It got ruled out a couple of months ago," disappointed Tonga coach Toutai Kefu told Stuff.
"I think playing along with his brother and representing his family and country was a massive incentive for him to do that."
"When you watch a game and you have the best players on the field and you have a fantastic spectacle in front of you, I don't think anyone is thinking about integrity.
Charles Piutau's Rugby World Cup dream has been ended for a second time. "The result means that Piutau won't be eligible to play for Tonga until the next World Cup cycle. "Then you watch like teams like Japan, and half the team is Tongan, I think you start talking about integrity in that scenario." Source: 1 NEWS
Charles Piutau with the Tongan-born Malakai Fekitoa after the All Blacks' 27-20 against the Springboks in 2015.Toutai Kefu, the former Wallabies No 8 who now coaches Tonga.Tonga coach Toutai Kefu wants Hurricanes lock Sam Lousi to be part of his World Cup squad. Charles Piutau
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