Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua quit the All Blacks to make a better life in England.

Charles Piutau's Rugby World Cup dream has been ended for a second time.

The former All Black had desperately wanted to represent Tonga at next year's global showpiece but Stuff can reveal that those hopes have been shattered.

PHOTOSPORT Charles Piutau has served a three-year stand-down period but still can't play for Tonga.

"It got ruled out a couple of months ago," disappointed Tonga coach Toutai Kefu told Stuff. "We were actively exploring a group of players, not just Charles, that were in the same boat and whether we could qualify them before the World Cup, and we can't.

"First of all they've got to sit out three years, which Charles has, and a group of other guys have.

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"The next process is we have to qualify them in an Olympic qualifying Sevens tournament and the only one that's available to us is after the World Cup.

"We looked into trying to move that tournament to before the World Cup and were unsuccessful in doing that."

The news will come as a bitter personal blow to Piutau, who must now wait until the following World Cup cycle to play for Tonga.

At present, players such as Piutau must observe a three-year stand-down period after their most recent test, and then qualify for Tonga by playing in an Olympics qualification tournament in Sevens rugby.

Kefu lamented the game's eligibility rules and the need for players to go through the Sevens route.

"I think that's a bit rich," Kefu said.

GETTY IMAGES Charles Piutau with the Tongan-born Malakai Fekitoa after the All Blacks' 27-20 against the Springboks in 2015.

"It"s just an extra hoop we don't need players to jump through - the three years alone, stand-down, is fine.

"I don't think there are any integrity issues there.

"When you watch a game and you have the best players on the field and you have a fantastic spectacle in front of you, I don't think anyone is thinking about integrity.

HENRY BROWNE/GETTY IMAGES Toutai Kefu, the former Wallabies No 8 who now coaches Tonga.

"Then you watch like teams like Japan, and half the team is Tongan, I think you start talking about integrity in that scenario."

Piutau's disappointment will be severe for two reasons.

​First, he was left out of the All Blacks' World Cup squad in 2015 after announcing he had signed a deal with Irish province Ulster.

MARK NOLAN/GETTY IMAGES Tonga coach Toutai Kefu wants Hurricanes lock Sam Lousi to be part of his World Cup squad.

The All Blacks said Piutau's impending move played no role in their decision and was based on form, although Piutau was named man of the match in the All Blacks' 27-20 win against the Springboks in Johannesburg in July, 2015, just months before the World Cup .

Second, Kefu said that the former Auckland star had "passionately" spoken of his desire to represent Tonga, much like Jason Taumalolo did in the Rugby League World Cup.

"I've caught up with over the past couple of years and I've spoken over the phone, through messages and emails and he very passionately wants to play for Tonga and he saw the World Cup next year as a massive opportunity to do that, and also to play under his brother [Siale], who is going to be captain," Kefu said.

"I think playing along with his brother and representing his family and country was a massive incentive for him to do that."

Despite the disappointment, Kefu said we hopeful of persuading some other Tongan-qualified players in New Zealand of joining their World Cup campaign, nominating Blues lock/blindside Jimmy Tupou, Hurricanes lock Sam Lousi and Highlanders prop Siate Tokolahi as three players he had his eye on.