Former All Black Charles Piutau's dreams of playing in a Rugby World Cup have been ended - again.
Piutau, who played 17 tests for the All Blacks between 2013 and 2015, was set to represent Tonga at next year's event in Japan but due to a three-year stand-down period, the 27-year-old fullback has been ruled out, as reported by Stuff.
Players such as Piutau must qualify through an Olympic Sevens tournament after their stand-down period – an eligibility requirement Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said was impossible to move in time for the World Cup.
![Charles Piutau made his All Blacks debut in 2013. Photo / Getty](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/CTOC6HETS2RXDLLHCC552KJLW4.jpg?auth=12b5f52b2a385efdcc805cbc9d1ea206892a2aec2d4f919139e1ece3db6c83fa&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
"We were actively exploring a group of players, not just Charles, that were in the same boat and whether we could qualify them before the World Cup, and we can't," Kefu told Stuff.