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Cullen to carry on New Zealand's most capped fullback signs new contract
WELLINGTON (Reuters) -- All Blacks fullback Christian Cullen has extended his contracts with New Zealand rugby until after the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the NZ Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) said on Monday. NZRFU team manager Andrew Martin said Cullen, whose current contract ends in 2001, had re-signed with the national body. "Christian is a genuine game breaker," Martin said in a statement. "There are few players in world rugby today with that ability and the NZRFU was keen to ensure New Zealanders continued to see him playing in this country and, form permitting, for the All Blacks," he said. Cullen, 24, is New Zealand's most capped fullback, having played 48 tests. Hurricanes and Wellington chief executive David White said Cullen had also re-signed with Wellington until the end of 2003. Cullen has scored 39 tries for the Hurricanes, the region's Super 12 side. But the All Blacks have lost flanker Josh Kronfeld, who announced his retirement from international rugby on Monday and said he planned to play in England. Kronfeld, 29, told reporters he was feeling tired after five tough All Black years in which he played 54 tests and scored 14 tries. "I have definitely been feeling a bit flat and I know I have had to make a conscious effort to be excited at training," Kronfeld said, confirming retirement rumors that go back months. "I'm going to have a break, I'm going to have some time off before I get into the next lot of things. "I will probably be over in the UK playing for a club about halfway through or towards the end of next year." However there was some good news for New Zealand on Monday, with fullback Christian Cullen re-signing with the NZRFU until after the 2003 World Cup.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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