 Toopi helped Leeds win the Super League Grand Final |
Leeds centre Clinton Toopi and Bradford winger Tame Tupou have been added to New Zealand's squad for their four-Test tour of Britain and France. The Kiwis only planned to call up one player from the All Golds team that beat the Northern Union 25-18.
But another vacancy arose following the announcement that veteran second rower David Kidwell has returned home to Christchurch to be with his sick mum.
New Zealand and Great Britain meet in the first of three Tests on Saturday.
That game takes place at the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield (1815 BST), with further Tests at Hull on 3 November and Wigan on 10 November.
The Kiwis complete their tour with a one-off Test against France in Paris on 17 November.
"The selectors felt there was good cover in the back row positions in the forwards so it was decided to bring in two more backs instead," said Kiwis coach Gary Kemble.
Toopi and Tupou both played for the Kiwis last year. Toopi has won 19 caps since making his debut in 2001 while Tupou has three.
Kemble intends to name a 19-man squad on Tuesday for the first Test against the Lions.
New Zealand: Louis Anderson (NZ Warriors), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Faiumu (North Queensland), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Epalahame Lauki (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), 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), Clinton Toopi (Leeds), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), Tame Tupou (Bradford), Paul Whatuira (Huddersfield).
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?