IRL approves application for Dane Gagai to represent New Zealand

International Rugby League has approved an application by Dane Gagai to change Tier 1 eligibility from Australia to New Zealand.

Gagai qualifies for New Zealand through his mother Tania and has represented his Ngāti Pikiāo heritage by playing for Maori All Stars since 2019.

He has previously played for Australia and was a member of the Kangaroos team which won the final of IRL Rugby League World Cup 2017.

Under IRL eligibility rules players who represent a Tier 1 nation – Australia, England and New Zealand – are unable to play for another Tier 1 nation.

Gagai’s application was initially rejected on those grounds.

However, IRL recently permitted Kalyn Ponga to switch his international allegiances to New Zealand and AJ Brimson to play for England after both had represented Australia at the IRL World Cup Nines in 2019.

Changes to State of Origin eligibility rules also enabled Briton Nikora, Casey McLean and Addin Fonua-Blake to play in this year’s series despite not being eligible for Australia as they have represented New Zealand.

An IRL Appeals Committee accepted that Gagai, who has played 23 State of Origins for Queensland, had not been afforded the same option.   

Gagai has not played for Australia since 2018 and he was not selected in the preliminary 40-man squad for IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026.

“Dane hasn’t played for Australia for eight years and we didn’t want him to be disadvantaged compared to other players with recent rule changes," Grant said.

“Dane wrote to us and Peter V’landys was very supportive. He felt there should be a bit of an amnesty period because we didn’t want one player disadvantaged over another, given that Dane wasn’t in the Kangaroos squad and it has been so long since he has played at international level. Kevin Walters was supportive too.

“Dane didn’t have the same option as other players who can play State of Origin and represent their heritage.

“It was felt that there were special circumstances in his case so Dane is now available for selection by New Zealand, and it is now up to them whether they pick him.”

The IRL Appeals Committee also approved an application for Kaiyah Atai to play for New Zealand after representing Cook Islands in World Cup qualifying match in 2024 .

Atai was born in New Zealand but was initially ruled ineligible to play for the Kiwi Ferns as the World Cup qualifiers are considered part of RLWC26. Cook Islands did not qualify for RLWC26.