He was born in New Zealand, played for the Australian Schoolboys and has represented Samoa.

But England-based former Wests Tigers and South Sydney rugby league player Eddy Pettybourne has been called up as a late replacement for the United States at this month’s Rugby League World Cup.

The 25-year-old forward, who will link up with Wigan in the English Super League after the tournament, replaces the injured Andrew Durutalo in coach Terry Matterson’s 24-man Eagles squad.

After opting to represent his native New Zealand, Pettybourne was called up by the Kiwis for the 2009 Four Nations tour to the UK as a late replacement but did not get to make his Test debut and actually played for Samoa against Tonga this year.