Rugby: Cunningham's English dilemma

By Wynne Gray

Former New Zealand Maori rugby fullback Jarrod Cunningham is facing the same dilemma which troubled his one-time team-mate Shane Howarth.

Cunningham has been invited to play in a trial with the England squad and is to meet coach Clive Woodward today to discuss the idea and his prospects of making it through to this year's World Cup.

Cunningham is eligible because his mother was born in England. The fullback is on a two-season contract with the London Irish club coached by England selector and former national coach Dick Best.

Two years ago, in a similar scenario, Howarth was approached to play for England but rejected that offer, though he has taken up a subsequent deal to play for Wales.

Cunningham appears equally as lukewarm about the idea of playing for England.

"It was never a goal of mine and in my mind it is 20-80," he said.

A very reliable goalkicker, Cunningham played for the Maori in 1997 and has played for the Hurricanes and Blues in the Super 12 series.