 Leuluai will be expected to fill the void left by Stacey Jones |
Thomas Leuluai has been named in New Zealand's 24-strong party for the Test series against Great Britain. The Wigan scrum-half, 22, won the last of his eight caps in the Anzac Test against Australia in May 2006.
The son of new Kiwi assistant coach James Leuluai, the former Harlequins player will be hoping to fill the boots of the retired Stacey Jones.
Bradford centre Shontayne Hape is the only other current Super League-based player in Gary Kemble's squad.
Leuluai, whose domestic season came to an end with Wigan's 36-6 play-off defeat by Leeds, is joined in the squad by Sydney Roosters full-back Sam Perrett.
Perrett becomes the eighth newcomer after seven uncapped players were included in the 19-man squad for the Centenary Test against the Kangaroos in Wellington next Sunday.
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But the Kiwis will be without Leeds full-back Brent Webb, who needs unspecified post-season surgery.
"I need a few things fixed up at the end of the season and to give the body a bit of a rest," said Webb.
The Kiwis play Great Britain in Huddersfield on 27 October and move on to Hull on 3 November and Wigan on 10 November.
They complete their tour with a one-off Test against France in Paris on 17 November.
New Zealand: Louis Anderson (NZ Warriors), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Faiumu (North Queensland), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Epalahame Lauki (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Steve Matai (Manly), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Ben Roberts (Canterbury), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Jeremy Smith (South Sydney), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), Paul Whatuira (Huddersfield).
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