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Wallabies legends to suit up for Tonga tsunami charity match
By AAP
Toutai Kefu will coach a star-studded Tongan invitational side against a vintage Queensland Reds outfit to raise funds for the battered South Pacific Island nation's recovery effort.
Tonga coach Kefu is himself recovering, after a terrifying home invasion last August resulted in the former Wallabies great in hospital and his wife, son and daughter all injured.
But he'll be back with the clipboard in hand for a 40-minute curtain-raiser to the Reds' Super Rugby Pacific home opener on February 19 at Suncorp Stadium.
James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham and David Croft will lace up the boots for the Vintage Reds, while George Smith, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri will feature for the Tongan side.
Public donations will be directed towards supporting the Tonga recovery effort after the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai underwater volcano and subsequent tsunami in January.
The disaster was felt heavily at Ballymore and Australian rugby in general, given many players' strong family ties to Tonga.
"It means a great deal to me, my family and my community to get the opportunity to raise some funds for our people," Kefu said.
"Our country has been devastated by this disaster, so every cent we can raise counts.
"We've got some great players strapping on the boots for both teams and it's going to be a great spectacle with some great rugby played."
Donations will be sent to a direct impact, on-ground organisation assisting the recovery of Tongan homes and lives.
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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