James Leuluai is a New Zealand former international rugby league player. His favoured position was centre. He is the father of Wigan Warriors and New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai. He is also the uncle of Leeds Rhinos prop Kylie Leuluai.

[edit] Playing career

A Mt Wellington junior, in his career Leuluai played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC. Leuluai also represented the New Zealand Kiwis and New Zealand Māori. Between 1979 and 1986 he played in 29 test matches for his country.

He is well known for scoring 2 tries for Hull FC in the 1985 Challenge Cup final against Wigan Warriors ^[1]

After he had finished his English career, Leuluai returned to New Zealand and started playing for Wellington. He helped them defeat Auckland for the first time in 75 years. It was during this time in Wellington that Leuluai began his coaching career.^[2]

[edit] Coaching career

During the early seasons of the Bartercard Cup, Leuluai was the coach of the Eastern Tornadoes.^[3] He later took on the role of the Junior Kiwis in 2002.^[4]

Between 2003 and 2005 Leuluai was one of Daniel Andersons two assistant coaches with the New Zealand Kiwis.

After a career of coaching New Zealand representative sides, Leuluai applied for the head coaching job of the New Zealand Kiwis in 2005 and was heavily favoured to be appointed until he withdrew due to personal reasons. Brian McClennan was appointed coach instead.

In July 2007 Leuluai again applied to coach the New Zealand Kiwis but ultimately Gary Kemble was appointed coach.^[5] Leuluai served as assistant under Kemble.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org

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