Kieran Foran’s rugby league career has, at most, three games left.
Ahead of his return to the international stage for the 2025 Pacific Championships as a replacement for injured number seven Jahrome Hughes, the 31-game Kiwi veteran has revealed the deep emotions that have always driven him to represent his country.
Speaking on SEN radio with Matt Rogers, Foran also explained his team’s collective desire to make up for a shock result in 2024 that saw New Zealand miss the Pacific Championships final after a one-point loss to Tonga at a heaving Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
“We’ll want retribution this time,” Foran declared.
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‘I’ve been on the receiving end of some huge thrashings’
Of course, the disappointments of 2024 were a far cry from 2023 when New Zealand stunned Australia 30-0 to claim its first Pacific Cup title in a match Foran thought would be his international swan song.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of some huge thrashings by the Kangaroos so it was nice to get one back (in 2023), I thought that would be it for me in the test arena,” Foran admitted.
“But I’m eager to go again, I’d love to replicate that and win another Pacific Champs.”
The 35-year-old went on to explain his career-long passion for representing the country of his birth.
“Some of the proudest moments and highlights of my career have been wearing the kiwi jersey, it’s as good as it gets for me, playing for my country, there’s no prouder moment—every time I’ve pulled that jersey on I’ve nearly been brought to tears, I just love giving it my all,” Foran said.
“That’s what’s drawn me back again, I absolutely love Stacey (Jones) as coach and what he’s trying to build with the kiwi side.
“Hopefully we can do the jersey proud and be competing in the final.”
New Zealand begins its 2025 Pacific Championships campaign against Toa Samoa on Sunday 19 October in Auckland.