NEWS:

03/07/2003 Cullen Still Available For World Cup.

He may have signed for Munster but Christian Cullen is still available for John Mitchell's All Blacks World Cup squad.

Munster officials have today announced the signing of the Wellington fullback to a three-year deal.
He has virtually been given the snub by the All Blacks selectors, so has decided to leave New Zealand.

Cullen's arrival date at Munster will become clearer once the All Blacks Tri Nations and then World Cup squads are named - something which Munster coach Alan Gaffney is comfortable with.
He says they are quite happy to get Cullen once he has completed his contractual commitments to the NZRU.
Gaffney says the Cullen coup is one of the biggest signings in European rugby for some time.
However Gaffney says he is surprised how simple and smooth it was to nab Cullen.
Gaffney says he considers Cullen one of the best players the world has seen, and having him in the mix is a massive boost to Munster. Audio and Video

Cullen's old Manawatu team mate Jason Holland is the current Munster first five.
And they are dancing in the streets of Limerick, following the news Christian Cullen is joining Munster.
Club official Pat Geraghty says Munster's website has been inundated with messages from ecstatic fans ever since the news was announced. Geraghty says signing Cullen has more than made up for losing out on Australian fullback Chris Latham.

Munster commentator Len Dineen says locals are astounded over the fact Cullen is not wanted by the All Blacks.
He says people just cannot believe New Zealand will not have him at the World Cup.

Dineen says Munster has a good pack of forwards, but needs a player like Cullen for penetration in the backs.

He says it looks as though Cullen will be available for the Celtic league, starting in a couple of months.

Meanwhile, Wellington Rugby CEO Malcolm Holmes has expressed his disappointment at Cullen's impending departure.
Holmes says Cullen is contracted with Wellington until the end of this season's NPC and he has stated he wishes to play for the Lions in this year's championship.

And former All Black coach John Hart is sad to see Cullen going. Hart was the first to pick Cullen in the All Blacks in 1996 and he is at a loss now to explain why he has slipped so far down the fullback rankings.
Hart says he is mystified as to how Cullen is not in the top two fullbacks in the country given his current form.

At this stage Christian Cullen will not be making any public comment to New Zealand media about his move.

Source:XtraMSN

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