Rugby League World Cup

The 38-year-old made his name in the 13-a-side game, winning NRL titles with the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs at both ends of his career and starring for Queensland, the Kangaroos and Fiji Bati, either side of an equally impressive stint in rugby union.

The loosening of representative rules means a player with dual eligibility that misses out on selection for Australia, New Zealand or England can still play for a second tier nation at the World Cup.

Tuqiri said that has got to be good news for Pacific nations.

Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish said the squad he named to take on England was probably the strongest he's selected in his four years in charge.

Wing Antonio Winterstein believes they're more than capable of causing an upset.

"When you put that blue jersey on you go in there to do your best and to do your country proud so definitely be going out there to get a result," he said.

"We believe we've got the team to do it so the result is the big picture but, at the end of the day, the boys are going out there and doing their best for their country."

The former head coach of the Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors has agreed to take charge of The Cedars at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Cleary has a wealth of coaching experience, overseeing the Warriors’ NRL side between 2006 and 2011, before starting a three-year stint with the Panthers in 2012 with a total of 249 games experience under his belt.

Speaking about his appointment, Cleary said the opportunity to guide a developing nation to this year’s Rugby League World Cup was one that he was eager to take up.

The 28 year old is back in the NRL after stints with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and the Fiji sevens team.

He represented Fiji at the 2008 World Cup and lifted the trophy in with the Australian team in 2013.

Bati coach Mick Potter said Jarryd Hayne told him he was very keen to represent at next year's World Cup.

The Rock thrashed South Africa 48-4 during their last hit-out in May and are now ranked 32nd in the world.

The 17th ranked Cook Islands will use the game on October the third as preparation for their Rugby League World Cup qualifying match against Tonga two weeks later.

Niue coach Brendan Perenara says even though the match doesn't have test status or rankings points on offer, going up against the Cook Islands will be the biggest game in their history.

Pacific representation at the tournament has been cut from five teams to four.

PNG, Fiji and Samoa, as the highest ranked sides, are already included in the draw, and it will be either Cook Islands or Tonga who make up the Pacific quartet.

Charles Carlson, president of the Cook Islands Rugby League, says their day of destiny will be in October.

The Cook Islands were one of five Pacific countries to contest the last World Cup but face a winner-takes-all playoff against Tonga in October to secure their spot in the 2017 event.

The annual Pacific Test programme has been running for three years but the Kukis have so far missed out, with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea all featuring in games.

The President of Cook Islands Rugby League, Charles Carlson, says if the other Pacific countries won't play them they will have to find teams that will.