Former Workington Town prop and New Zealand international Hitro Okesene will be meeting the current crop of Kiwi superstars this week.

Okesene, who now lives just outside Aspatria, has an important role to play ahead of the big Scotland v New Zealand clash at Workington’s Zebra Claims Stadium tomorrow, ko 8pm.

He has been asked by New Zealand officials to present the team with their playing jerseys ahead of the Four Nations contest.

And Okesene admitted it was an honour to be involved.

“I am going to go through and hand the jerseys out and it was a real honour to be asked,” said Okesene.

“I received a voice mail from one of the managers. I called her back and she asked me if I would like to do it.”

Okesene has played at the highest levels of the game, representing his native New Zealand as well as playing for top teams in the domestic game, Auckland Warriors in the NRL and Hull Sharks in Super

League, before joining Workington.

And he believes the west Cumbrian crowd is in for a real treat when the Kiwis land in town.

“There is always a lot of interest when the New Zealand team comes to play,” he added.

“They are ranked number one in the world so it is something everyone can look forward to watching, especially kids.

“They will all like to see the haka and then go to school and talk about it for weeks, which is great for the game itself.

“And maybe some of these youngsters will go on to take up the game.”

Okesene said he was looking forward to seeing the two teams in action and said NRL star Shaun Johnson would be a big draw.

“Everybody wants to see Shaun Johnson because he is such a big player,” added Okesene, who played for New Zealand alongside the likes of Henry Paul, Stephen Kearney, Richie Blackmore, Sean Hoppe, Matthew Ridge and Richie Barnett in the hard-fought last-four clash with Australia at Huddersfield in the 1995 World Cup.

“But the rest of the team are also high profile so nobody will be disappointed on the night I’m sure.”

Okesene is not currently involved in rugby league, instead spending time on the football touchlines watching his son play.

But he says he would never rule out a return to the coaching arena.

“I can’t commit to coaching a team at the moment but I am not saying this is the end. It is in my blood,” he added.