Former Wallabies lock Adam Coleman is set to honour his late father after being named in Tonga’s squad for Rugby World Cup warm-up games in July.
Coleman played 38 Tests for Australia between 2016-19 before signing to play for London Irish.
The 31-year-old’s late father, Pau’u Afeaki, is a former Tonga captain who died when Coleman was 12.
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Coleman’s cousins Rodney Blake (Australia), Inoke Afeaki (Tonga) and Ben Afeaki (New Zealand) have also played Test rugby.
“That’s the reason I play rugby,” Coleman said during the 2019 World Cup.
“You have the old man play rugby for Tonga and you’ve got three, four cousins that have played professional rugby. So as a youngster you always look up to them and think, ‘I want to play rugby, I want to be better than them’.
“I wanted to get out there and find out why they like it so much. Why are they doing that?”
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Coleman – who has also been linked with a club move to Bordeaux – was approached by Tonga coach and Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu last year regarding a potential switch.
World Rugby’s new eligibility laws have opened the door for a raft of international stars to switch allegiance to Tonga, including Israel Folau, Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Lopeti Timani, George Moala and Augustine Pulu.
Tonga is only ranked 15th in the world but on paper has the potential to cause major upsets in a stacked Pool B that includes defending champions South Africa and world No.1 Ireland as well as Scotland and Romania.
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“We’re going to have a really good team, probably the best ever,” Kefu told AAP recently.
“We’re in a tough pool, but we’ll throw all our eggs in one basket and aim up against Ireland (in the opener). We can’t play footy with them – they’ll beat us every day of the week. So we need to come up with a bit of a plan and I think we’ve got one… it’s going to be good.”
TONGA SQUAD FOR JULY TESTS
Forwards: Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Feao Fotuaika, David Lolohea, Paula Ngauamo, Siua Maile, Samiuela Moli, Sosefo Sakalia, Ben Tameifuna, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Adam Coleman, Samiuela Lousi, Halaleva Fifita, Sitiveni Mafi, Vaea Fifita, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Lopeti Timani, Sione Havili Talitui
Backs: Sonatane Takulua, Augustine Pulu, Manu Paea, William Havili, Otumaka Mausia, Patrick Pellegrini, Pita Ahki, Malakai Fekitoa, Afusipa Taumoepeau, George Moala, Fine Inisi, Israel Folau, Solomone Kata, Charles Piutau, Kuren Taumoefolau
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