Kieran
Foran
Resilient and brilliant five-eighth Kieran Foran appeared certain to become one of New Zealand’s longest-serving internationals, but a horror run of injuries severely limited his availability since starring in a string of momentous victories in the mid-2010s. He has enjoyed a representative renaissance in recent years, however, to hold a place in the Kiwis' squad 14 years after his Test debut.
Born in Auckland and first pulling on the boots for Ellerslie Eagles, Foran moved to Sydney with his family while still at primary school. His ability while coming through the North Sydney junior grades was recognised with his selection in the 2007 Australian Schoolboys side while attending Marist College North Shore.
Foran was snapped up by Manly, playing 35 games for the club’s NYC side in 2008-09 and making an instant impact at NRL level when he was blooded as an 18-year-old during the second half of the latter season. He scored six tries in nine first-grade outings to snare a place in the Kiwis’ Four Nations touring squad.
Capping a meteoric rise, Foran made his Test debut at centre in a 20-12 loss to England at Huddersfield – less than four months after his 19th birthday. That was his only appearance at the tournament but he was picked at halfback inside captain Benji Marshall for the 2010 Anzac Test.
Injury ruled Foran out of New Zealand’s subsequent Four Nations triumph. He wore the No.7 jersey in all five of the Kiwis’ Test assignments in 2011, however, and starred in the Sea Eagles’ premiership triumph. An ill-timed injury prevented him from playing in the 2012 Anzac Test in Auckland but he returned for the post-season loss to Australia in Townsville.
Solidifying his standing as one of the world’s best players in 2013, Foran was integral to Manly’s drive to another grand final – a loss to Sydney Roosters – and was ever-present at five-eighth for New Zealand. He captained the Kiwis in their Anzac Test loss to the Kangaroos in Canberra and featured in all six matches at the Rugby League World Cup for the runners-up.
Foran’s playmaking class was complemented by a fierce competitive streak and inspirational toughness in defence. The 2014 season would be one of his most memorable, finishing equal-seventh in the Dally M Medal count and playing superbly as Shaun Johnson’s halves foil throughout the Kiwis’ triumphant Four Nations campaign. Foran and Johnson teamed up again to lead New Zealand to a drought-breaking Anzac Test victory in Brisbane in 2015, but both linchpins were ruled out of the end-of-year tour to England with injury.
The 25-year-old joined Parramatta in 2016 and was immediately installed as captain. But a season-ending shoulder injury and a string of widely-publicised personal issues meant he played just nine games for the Eels before returning to Auckland to take up a one-year contract with the Warriors. Injuries also hampered his sole 2017 season at the Warriors, but he soldiered on valiantly and made his first international appearance in two years as the Kiwis went down to the Kangaroos in the Canberra-hosted Anzac Test. He pulled out of RLWC contention to focus on recovering from multiple ailments.
Linking with Canterbury, Foran’s 2018 campaign was cut short in June by a toe injury. Ankle and hamstring problems restricted his appearances again in 2019 but he finished the NRL season in top-shelf form for the Bulldogs to earn a Kiwis recall at the end of the year. Foran was chosen to replace Johnson in the halves for the series opener against Great Britain at Eden Park – his first Test outing on New Zealand soil in five years – to extend his international tenure to a decade. But agonisingly he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the early stages of the 12-8 win.
Foran made his 200th NRL appearance in a 2020 campaign for the Bulldogs bookended by further injury absences, while he signed a deal to return to the Sea Eagles in 2021 – a move that sparked a wonderful career revival. The 31-year-old played 25 games (his most in a season since 2013) in a team that surged to a top-four finish and reached the preliminary final stage, producing 11 try-assists and thriving in the halves alongside 2011-15 teammate Daly Cherry-Evans. Foran was named in the Kiwis’ wider squad for the postponed World Cup at the end of 2021.
Earning a bench spot for New Zealand's mid-season Test against Tonga in 2022, he played a bit-part role in the 26-6 victory while his consistent form in a free-falling Manly side prompting Gold Coast Titans to snap the 262-game veteran up for 2023. Foran, one of the longest-serving Kiwis players of all time in terms of years, grabbed a spot in the squad for the RLWC in England. He featured in all five matches at the tournament - at halfback against Lebanon and Jamaica (kicking six goals against the latter) with Jahrome Hughes unavailable and as an interchange in the last pool game against Ireland, the quarter-final win over Fiji and the semi-final loss to Australia.
Foran proved a valuable buy for the Titans, scoring six tries (his most in a season since 2014) in 20 games in 2023.
The 33-year-old provided much-needed experience in a youthful Kiwis squad for the Pacific Championships and started all three matches in the unfamiliar hooker role after initially being named on the bench for the opening clash with Samoa. Foran averaged 30 tackles and provided sound dummy-half service in New Zealand's triumphant campaign that culminated in a record 30-0 win over Australia in the final, taking his Test tally to 31 matches.
In 2025, Foran made his final NRL appearance in an emotional Round 27 farewell match, helping the Titans orchestrate a second-half comeback to secure a memorable victory over the Wests Tigers. The veteran playmaker was then recalled to Kiwis duties by coach Stacey Jones, starting at halfback in all three Tests, partnering with Dylan Brown in the halves. The Kiwis’ comeback Grand Final win over Toa Samoa provided a storybook ending to Foran's outstanding international career.
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Kieran
Foran
Resilient and brilliant five-eighth Kieran Foran appeared certain to become one of New Zealand’s longest-serving internationals, but a horror run of injuries severely limited his availability since starring in a string of momentous victories in the mid-2010s. He has enjoyed a representative renaissance in recent years, however, to hold a place in the Kiwis' squad 14 years after his Test debut.
Born in Auckland and first pulling on the boots for Ellerslie Eagles, Foran moved to Sydney with his family while still at primary school. His ability while coming through the North Sydney junior grades was recognised with his selection in the 2007 Australian Schoolboys side while attending Marist College North Shore.
Foran was snapped up by Manly, playing 35 games for the club’s NYC side in 2008-09 and making an instant impact at NRL level when he was blooded as an 18-year-old during the second half of the latter season. He scored six tries in nine first-grade outings to snare a place in the Kiwis’ Four Nations touring squad.
Capping a meteoric rise, Foran made his Test debut at centre in a 20-12 loss to England at Huddersfield – less than four months after his 19th birthday. That was his only appearance at the tournament but he was picked at halfback inside captain Benji Marshall for the 2010 Anzac Test.
Injury ruled Foran out of New Zealand’s subsequent Four Nations triumph. He wore the No.7 jersey in all five of the Kiwis’ Test assignments in 2011, however, and starred in the Sea Eagles’ premiership triumph. An ill-timed injury prevented him from playing in the 2012 Anzac Test in Auckland but he returned for the post-season loss to Australia in Townsville.
Solidifying his standing as one of the world’s best players in 2013, Foran was integral to Manly’s drive to another grand final – a loss to Sydney Roosters – and was ever-present at five-eighth for New Zealand. He captained the Kiwis in their Anzac Test loss to the Kangaroos in Canberra and featured in all six matches at the Rugby League World Cup for the runners-up.
Foran’s playmaking class was complemented by a fierce competitive streak and inspirational toughness in defence. The 2014 season would be one of his most memorable, finishing equal-seventh in the Dally M Medal count and playing superbly as Shaun Johnson’s halves foil throughout the Kiwis’ triumphant Four Nations campaign. Foran and Johnson teamed up again to lead New Zealand to a drought-breaking Anzac Test victory in Brisbane in 2015, but both linchpins were ruled out of the end-of-year tour to England with injury.
The 25-year-old joined Parramatta in 2016 and was immediately installed as captain. But a season-ending shoulder injury and a string of widely-publicised personal issues meant he played just nine games for the Eels before returning to Auckland to take up a one-year contract with the Warriors. Injuries also hampered his sole 2017 season at the Warriors, but he soldiered on valiantly and made his first international appearance in two years as the Kiwis went down to the Kangaroos in the Canberra-hosted Anzac Test. He pulled out of RLWC contention to focus on recovering from multiple ailments.
Linking with Canterbury, Foran’s 2018 campaign was cut short in June by a toe injury. Ankle and hamstring problems restricted his appearances again in 2019 but he finished the NRL season in top-shelf form for the Bulldogs to earn a Kiwis recall at the end of the year. Foran was chosen to replace Johnson in the halves for the series opener against Great Britain at Eden Park – his first Test outing on New Zealand soil in five years – to extend his international tenure to a decade. But agonisingly he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the early stages of the 12-8 win.
Foran made his 200th NRL appearance in a 2020 campaign for the Bulldogs bookended by further injury absences, while he signed a deal to return to the Sea Eagles in 2021 – a move that sparked a wonderful career revival. The 31-year-old played 25 games (his most in a season since 2013) in a team that surged to a top-four finish and reached the preliminary final stage, producing 11 try-assists and thriving in the halves alongside 2011-15 teammate Daly Cherry-Evans. Foran was named in the Kiwis’ wider squad for the postponed World Cup at the end of 2021.
Earning a bench spot for New Zealand's mid-season Test against Tonga in 2022, he played a bit-part role in the 26-6 victory while his consistent form in a free-falling Manly side prompting Gold Coast Titans to snap the 262-game veteran up for 2023. Foran, one of the longest-serving Kiwis players of all time in terms of years, grabbed a spot in the squad for the RLWC in England. He featured in all five matches at the tournament - at halfback against Lebanon and Jamaica (kicking six goals against the latter) with Jahrome Hughes unavailable and as an interchange in the last pool game against Ireland, the quarter-final win over Fiji and the semi-final loss to Australia.
Foran proved a valuable buy for the Titans, scoring six tries (his most in a season since 2014) in 20 games in 2023.
The 33-year-old provided much-needed experience in a youthful Kiwis squad for the Pacific Championships and started all three matches in the unfamiliar hooker role after initially being named on the bench for the opening clash with Samoa. Foran averaged 30 tackles and provided sound dummy-half service in New Zealand's triumphant campaign that culminated in a record 30-0 win over Australia in the final, taking his Test tally to 31 matches.
In 2025, Foran made his final NRL appearance in an emotional Round 27 farewell match, helping the Titans orchestrate a second-half comeback to secure a memorable victory over the Wests Tigers. The veteran playmaker was then recalled to Kiwis duties by coach Stacey Jones, starting at halfback in all three Tests, partnering with Dylan Brown in the halves. The Kiwis’ comeback Grand Final win over Toa Samoa provided a storybook ending to Foran's outstanding international career.
PROFILE
Height M
180
WEIGHT KG
90
DOB
Jul 13, 1990
HIGHLIGHTS
Test matches
34
Test points
44
GOLD COAST TITANS (2023-2025)
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Kiwis claim Pacific Cup glory in Foran’s farewell
The New Zealand Kiwis have crowned their Pacific Championships campaign with a 36–14 victory over Toa Samoa at CommBank Stadium, delivering the perfect send-off for veteran playmaker Kieran Foran in his final Test match.
Trailing 14–6 at halftime, the Kiwis stormed home with 30 unanswered points in a dominant second half. Foran was instrumental in the comeback, combining brilliantly with Dylan Brown, who produced a standout performance featuring three try assists, 10 tackle breaks and 181 running metres.
Isaiah Papali’i crossed for two tries, while Casey McLean, Erin Clark, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also found the line. Clark’s powerful run early in the second half shifted momentum, before Papali’i’s second try in the 76th minute sealed the result.
Fullback Keano Kini continued his breakout tournament with 125 metres, six tackle breaks and four offloads, while Naufahu Whyte made a huge impact off the bench with 194 metres and seven tackle breaks.
The win secures New Zealand’s second Pacific Cup title in three seasons and confirms their status as a leading contender ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Head coach Stacey Jones praised his side’s resilience and composure under pressure, noting the leadership of Foran and the team’s ability to respond after a tough first half.
It was a night of pride and celebration for New Zealand Rugby League, closing out the Pacific Championships with silverware and a fitting farewell for one of the Kiwis’ most respected players.
NZRL Congratulates Foran Ahead Of Swansong
Kieran Foran has been congratulated by the New Zealand Rugby League ahead of the last match of his decorated career for the Kiwis in their clash against Toa Sāmoa inthe Pacific Championships final at CommBank Stadium in Sydney today.
The game will leave Foran (Kiwi #757) with a total of 352 top level appearances comprising 34 Tests and 318 NRL matches for five clubs.
He will finish as the oldest player to appear at Test level for the Kiwis at 35years, 200 days, ahead of his former teammate Benji Marshall – the next oldest– who was 34 years, 257 days when he played his final international in 2019.
Foran’s Test career, spanning 17 seasons since his debut in 2009, is also the longest in the Kiwis’ history.
“The New Zealand rugby league community congratulates Kieran on a remarkable career,” said New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters.
“He has always worn the Kiwi jersey with such pride, passion and courage overcoming so many challenges along the way.
“Kieran’s contribution to our game has been immense and he will leave a lasting legacy for all to follow.
“As one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen, it’s so fitting his last match is in the Kiwi jersey and in the Pacific Championships final.”
An Ellerslie Eagles junior, Foran was 19 when he made his Test debut in the centres against England in Huddersfield on November 7, 2009.
He was in the New Zealand side which beat Australia 22-14 in the 2014 Four Nations final while putting together a run of three consecutive wins over the Kangaroos in 2014-2015 before conquering the Australians by a record 30-0 margin to claim the inaugural Pacific Cup crown in 2023.
Of the 33 Tests he has played to date the Kiwis have won 21 while losing 12.
End of an Era: Foran’s Last Stand with the Kiwis
Kieran Foran’s final match on New Zealand soil was a fitting send-off for one of the Kiwis’ most loyal servants. The veteran half guided New Zealand to a dominant win over Tonga at Eden Park, his last chance to represent Aotearoa in front of home fans before closing out his international career in the Pacific Championships Final in Sydney this weekend.
Foran’s leadership has been a steadying force throughout the Kiwis’ campaign. Since making his debut in 2009, he has worn the black and white with pride across 34 Tests, including the 2014 Four Nations triumph and several World Cup campaigns. His professionalism and humility have earned universal respect among teammates and fans alike.
Kiwis head coach Stacey Jones said Foran’s impact on the team went far beyond his on-field performances.
“He’s been a massive influence, calm, selfless, and always putting the team first,” Jones said. “Kieran has helped set the standard for what it means to be a Kiwi. The younger players look up to him.”
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Sunday’s final at CommBank Stadium will mark Foran’s last outing in the famous jersey, a milestone that blends emotion with opportunity. While it is the end of an era for one of New Zealand Rugby League’s greats, it is also the beginning of a new generation, with emerging talents like Keano Kini, Casey McLean, and Naufahu Whyte carrying the torch forward.
Foran says he is savouring every moment of his final campaign.
“It has been a privilege every time I have pulled on this jersey,” he said. “To finish my last game in New Zealand at Eden Park, and to have one more in Sydney, is really special. I just want to enjoy the week and finish the right way for the team and our supporters.”
This Sunday, Foran will lead the Kiwis into battle one last time, a proud farewell to a career built on service, resilience, and devotion to the black and white.
Broughton, Clark, Foran & Isaako take home 2025 Dally M awards
By the end of the evening, Erin Clark and Gayle Broughton were named in the Team of the Year, recognising their standout NRL and NRLW seasons respectively. Broughton’s accolade comes just days before she takes the field in this weekend’s NRLW Grand Final.
Kiwis NRL Dally M Award Winners Lock of the Year – Erin Clark Ken Stephen Medal – Kieran Foran Highest Point Scorer – Jamayne Isaako Kiwi Ferns NRLW Dally M Award Winner Five-Eighth of the Year – Gayle Broughton
Go after it like no other': Foran open to one more Kiwis campaign
Biography
Last updated:
November 20, 2025
Resilient and brilliant five-eighth Kieran Foran appeared certain to become one of New Zealand’s longest-serving internationals, but a horror run of injuries severely limited his availability since starring in a string of momentous victories in the mid-2010s. He has enjoyed a representative renaissance in recent years, however, to hold a place in the Kiwis' squad 14 years after his Test debut.
Born in Auckland and first pulling on the boots for Ellerslie Eagles, Foran moved to Sydney with his family while still at primary school. His ability while coming through the North Sydney junior grades was recognised with his selection in the 2007 Australian Schoolboys side while attending Marist College North Shore.
Foran was snapped up by Manly, playing 35 games for the club’s NYC side in 2008-09 and making an instant impact at NRL level when he was blooded as an 18-year-old during the second half of the latter season. He scored six tries in nine first-grade outings to snare a place in the Kiwis’ Four Nations touring squad.
Capping a meteoric rise, Foran made his Test debut at centre in a 20-12 loss to England at Huddersfield – less than four months after his 19th birthday. That was his only appearance at the tournament but he was picked at halfback inside captain Benji Marshall for the 2010 Anzac Test.
Injury ruled Foran out of New Zealand’s subsequent Four Nations triumph. He wore the No.7 jersey in all five of the Kiwis’ Test assignments in 2011, however, and starred in the Sea Eagles’ premiership triumph. An ill-timed injury prevented him from playing in the 2012 Anzac Test in Auckland but he returned for the post-season loss to Australia in Townsville.
Solidifying his standing as one of the world’s best players in 2013, Foran was integral to Manly’s drive to another grand final – a loss to Sydney Roosters – and was ever-present at five-eighth for New Zealand. He captained the Kiwis in their Anzac Test loss to the Kangaroos in Canberra and featured in all six matches at the Rugby League World Cup for the runners-up.
Foran’s playmaking class was complemented by a fierce competitive streak and inspirational toughness in defence. The 2014 season would be one of his most memorable, finishing equal-seventh in the Dally M Medal count and playing superbly as Shaun Johnson’s halves foil throughout the Kiwis’ triumphant Four Nations campaign. Foran and Johnson teamed up again to lead New Zealand to a drought-breaking Anzac Test victory in Brisbane in 2015, but both linchpins were ruled out of the end-of-year tour to England with injury.
The 25-year-old joined Parramatta in 2016 and was immediately installed as captain. But a season-ending shoulder injury and a string of widely-publicised personal issues meant he played just nine games for the Eels before returning to Auckland to take up a one-year contract with the Warriors. Injuries also hampered his sole 2017 season at the Warriors, but he soldiered on valiantly and made his first international appearance in two years as the Kiwis went down to the Kangaroos in the Canberra-hosted Anzac Test. He pulled out of RLWC contention to focus on recovering from multiple ailments.
Linking with Canterbury, Foran’s 2018 campaign was cut short in June by a toe injury. Ankle and hamstring problems restricted his appearances again in 2019 but he finished the NRL season in top-shelf form for the Bulldogs to earn a Kiwis recall at the end of the year. Foran was chosen to replace Johnson in the halves for the series opener against Great Britain at Eden Park – his first Test outing on New Zealand soil in five years – to extend his international tenure to a decade. But agonisingly he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the early stages of the 12-8 win.
Foran made his 200th NRL appearance in a 2020 campaign for the Bulldogs bookended by further injury absences, while he signed a deal to return to the Sea Eagles in 2021 – a move that sparked a wonderful career revival. The 31-year-old played 25 games (his most in a season since 2013) in a team that surged to a top-four finish and reached the preliminary final stage, producing 11 try-assists and thriving in the halves alongside 2011-15 teammate Daly Cherry-Evans. Foran was named in the Kiwis’ wider squad for the postponed World Cup at the end of 2021.
Earning a bench spot for New Zealand's mid-season Test against Tonga in 2022, he played a bit-part role in the 26-6 victory while his consistent form in a free-falling Manly side prompting Gold Coast Titans to snap the 262-game veteran up for 2023. Foran, one of the longest-serving Kiwis players of all time in terms of years, grabbed a spot in the squad for the RLWC in England. He featured in all five matches at the tournament - at halfback against Lebanon and Jamaica (kicking six goals against the latter) with Jahrome Hughes unavailable and as an interchange in the last pool game against Ireland, the quarter-final win over Fiji and the semi-final loss to Australia.
Foran proved a valuable buy for the Titans, scoring six tries (his most in a season since 2014) in 20 games in 2023.
The 33-year-old provided much-needed experience in a youthful Kiwis squad for the Pacific Championships and started all three matches in the unfamiliar hooker role after initially being named on the bench for the opening clash with Samoa. Foran averaged 30 tackles and provided sound dummy-half service in New Zealand's triumphant campaign that culminated in a record 30-0 win over Australia in the final, taking his Test tally to 31 matches.
In 2025, Foran made his final NRL appearance in an emotional Round 27 farewell match, helping the Titans orchestrate a second-half comeback to secure a memorable victory over the Wests Tigers. The veteran playmaker was then recalled to Kiwis duties by coach Stacey Jones, starting at halfback in all three Tests, partnering with Dylan Brown in the halves. The Kiwis’ comeback Grand Final win over Toa Samoa provided a storybook ending to Foran's outstanding international career.
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