Iliesa Tora
RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist
Tonga rugby
league team co-captain Jason Taumalolo is the only Pasifika
player currently playing the game to be inducted in the
inaugural International Rugby League (IRL) Hall of
Legends.
He joins two other Pasifika players in the
list of inductees, in former Kangaroo and Fiji Bati captain
Petero Civoniceva plus former Fetu Samoa and New Zealand
Kiwi Ferns representative Luisa Avaiki.
The IRL said
in a statement on Thursday that Taumalolo is among close to
50 rugby legends selected as inductees.
IRL Chairman
Troy Grant said the inaugural IRL Hall of Legends Inductees
is a special group of players.
He said it is “a real
who’s who of International Rugby League.”
“This is
long overdue recognition for these players whose
contribution to international rugby league was not just
confined to the playing field but transcended into the
betterment of the game and into the lives and memories of
rugby league fans worldwide,” he said.
“The list of
nominees was exceptional and there will be further
inductions to come into the IRL Hall of Legends. We simply
couldn’t induct every deserving nominee at our first
attempt; their recognition will come.”
Legends
list
Ten players from pre-1954, six greats of the
women’s game and 26 male players from the post-1954 era,
including Taumalolo, are included.
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The IRL said
Taumalolo, whose decision to represent Tonga at the 2017
World Cup changed international rugby league forever, has
been honoured with his induction.
Taumalolo and Andrew
Fifita led a group of Tongan players who opted to represent
their country of origin in 2017.
While Fifita opted
out of representing Australia, Taumalolo turned his back on
New Zealand.
Their action back then has inspired many
more players to join the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
in internationals, including at this year’s Rugby League
World Cup.
A total of eight nations are represented in
the IRL Hall of Legends.
These are Australia, England,
New Zealand, France, Wales, Fiji, Samoa and
Tonga.
Inductees were presented with their awards, at
a ceremony at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, ahead of
this weekend’s IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026
finals.
Taumalolo is in Tonga with members of the
Tonga 13, being celebrated and honoured by his own people,
following their semifinal loss to New Zealand last
weekend.
He and his fellow teammates will be guests of
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukala at the
Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa this morning, before a national
parade honouring the team later in the afternoon.
New
Zealand Kiwi greats Stacey Jones, who will coach New Zealand
in Sunday’s World Cup final, Ruben Wiki and Mark Graham have
also been inducted.
Long serving Kangaroos captains
Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith head the list
of Australian stars from the modern era, which includes
Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater.
To be considered
for induction into the IRL Hall of Legend candidates must
have:
- Made a significant contribution to the
international rugby league and/or - Be a member of
their nation’s Hall of Fame or equivalent recognition,
and/or - Been awarded an IRL Golden Cap (50 Tests)
and/or - Won the IRL Golden Boot/RLIF International
Player of the Year Award
The IRL said more than
240 nominees were identified and the inaugural IRL Hall of
Legends Inductees were chosen by a committee of esteemed
Rugby League coaches, players, administrators, journalists
and commentators from across the
world.
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