Toutai Kefu

Toutai Kefu was just short of his second birthday when his family bid farewell to his native Tonga for a better life in Queensland. To young to understand why at the time, he has since worked it out. It was all about rugby. 

Not his rugby but his father's rugby. Yet with the benefit of 45 years' hindsight it was a gift to Australian rugby that keeps on giving. 

Through 103 games for the Queensland Reds from 1996-2004 and 60 games for his adopted Australian Wallabies from 1997-2003 he's been respected and admired by friends and foe. A powerhouse No.8 and one of the game's most popular figures. 

He's done it all, helping the Wallabies to their second World Cup in 1999 and their first Tri-Nations title and a record third consecutive Bledisloe Cup in 2000. In his best year in 2001, he helped secure their first series win over the British & Irish Lions in 70 years, scored the winning try against the All Blacks to send John Eales into retirement, and was Reds Player of the Year. 

Now 11 years into a varied coaching career, he has been the Tongan national coach since 2016. In 2023 he'll take his home country to the 2023 World Cup in France, and he'll take with him membership to the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.