The International Rugby league Board has approved Kalyn Ponga's application to switch Tier 1 eligibility from Australia to New Zealand ahead of the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Ponga, who was the 2023 Dally M Medallist as NRL player of year with the Newcastle Knights, was born in Australia to New Zealander parents.
He has represented Queensland in State of Origin but was previously ineligible to represent New Zealand after playing for Australia at World Cup 9s.
Recent changes to State of Origin eligibility rules now allow New Zealand and England players who qualify for NSW or Queensland to play for their state.
Core State of Origin eligibility criteria remain unchanged:
With Ponga fitting the above criteria, he can now play for New Zealand and still represent Queensland.
In a statement, Ponga said: "While I was born in Australia, my connection to New Zealand runs deep through every generation of my family. My father, Andre Ponga, was born in Palmerston North, and my mother, Adine Ponga, was born in Wellington. All four of my grandparents were also born in New Zealand. My roots, my whakapapa, and my identity are firmly grounded in this country and its people.
"I am immensely proud of my Mãori heritage, and that pride has only grown stronger with each passing year. I have had the privilege of representing the Mãori All Stars on three occasions, and those experiences have only deepened my connection to New Zealand rugby league and to the broader Mãori community.
"I want to be transparent about my representative history at the Australian level. My only appearances for Australia were in the Junior Kangaroos and the Rugby League World 9's, both in 2019. These were appearances I am grateful for; however, upon reflection, they do not reflect where my heart, my heritage, and my deepest sense of belonging truly lie."
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: "I was honoured to inform Kalyn of the IRL Board's unanimous decision to approve his application to be eligible for New Zealand and he was very grateful.
"The strength of international rugby league is the passion of the players to represent their nations and families, and the aim of the international eligibility rules is to ensure that the best players play for nations that they are eligible to represent."
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