Castleford Kiwi Chase switches allegiance to England

The 25-year-old Chase, who is on a three-man short-list for the 2011 Super League Man of Steel after an outstanding year with the Tigers, played against England for the New Zealand Maoris in Auckland on the eve of last year’s Four Nations Series.

But he qualifies for England under the residency ruling, having been with Castleford for the last three seasons, and is now set to line up against the country of his birth in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations.

“I have thought long and hard about the opportunity of playing for England after I became eligible to play,” said Chase, who last week signed a new contract that will keep him at Castleford to the end of 2015.

“I approached Steve McNamara and explained that I wanted to play for England and, more importantly, show my commitment.

“England, and in particular Castleford, is my home now and I want to lay my long-term roots here.”

For more on this story read Tuesday’s Yorkshire Post.