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New Rhinos deal for Leuluai

Veteran Leeds Rhinos prop Kylie Leuluai has been handed a new contract after putting on hold his retirement plans for a second time.

The 35-year-old New Zealander signed a new 12-month deal a year ago after shelving plans to hang up his boots and has now been given a rolling contract, which means he can play on until either party decides the time is right for him to finish.

Leuluai, a five-time Grand Final winner who made his 200th appearance for the Rhinos in last Friday's 42-22 win at Bradford, signed his new deal on the eve of his side's Tetley's Challenge Cup fifth-round tie against Huddersfield.

"I am really pleased to have got the deal sorted and can now look forward to the future starting with a big game against Huddersfield on Saturday."

– Kylie Leuluai, Leeds Rhinos

Rhinos' Leuluai refused "dual register" status over visa issue

Super League champions Leeds have been refused permission to loan veteran Samoan prop Kylie Leuluai to neighbours Hunslet.

The Rhinos have a partnership with the Hawks in which players not required for Super League duty can be dual-registered to turn out for the Championship club.

Leeds wanted Leuluai and fellow front rower Richard Moore to gain match practice with Hunslet against Leigh on Sunday. However, the Rugby Football League say they have been told by the UK Border Agency that, under the terms of his visa, Leuluai is unable to become a dual-registered player.

"The RFL has recently lobbied the UKBA for a change to the rules which prevent players on tier-two visas playing for a second club on a short-term arrangement.

"This follows on from changes to the Super League Academy structure, which from 2013 is an exclusively Under-19s competition, an arrangement that means open-age overseas tier-two visa players returning from injury cannot gain match fitness on short-term loans or dual registrations.

"Dialogue with the UKBA continues but the UKBA have confirmed that, until any change in circumstance is agreed, under existing provisions no player on a tier two visa can be dual registered."

– A League spokesman
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Leeds prop forward to miss major match after ban

Leeds prop forward Kylie Leuluai will miss the champions' Super League preliminary semi-final against Catalan Dragons in Perpignan on Friday night after he was given a one-match ban.

Leuluai, who has been absent for only one of the Rhinos' 34 matches so far this season, was given the suspension, along with a £300 fine, after being found guilty by the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee of a grade B offence of punching.

He had been cited by the RFL's match-review panel for the offence on winger Peter Fox in the last minute of the Rhinos' 42-20 play-off win over Wakefield last Saturday.