Toutai Kefu Inducted into Queensland Reds Rugby Hall of Fame
The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) have inducted three legends of the game into the QRU Hall of Fame. The three includes current Ikale Tahi Head Coach Toutai Kefu.
QRU Chair Brett Clark said “Toutai set a new standard for number eights and two decades after his retirement and remains the most capped Wallaby in that position. He is the first Pasifika player inducted into our Hall of Fame, reflecting the contribution of Pacific islanders – a contribution Toutai led then and now.”
Toutai Kefu
QLD No. 1062. Wallaby no. 741.
103 caps for Queensland. 58 Caps for the Wallabies.
1999 Rugby World Cup Champion.
Souths Rugby Club and Coorparoo State High School
A proud Tongan, Toutai’s father Fatai played for his homeland – winning a famous Test against the Wallabies at Ballymore in 1973. Fatai moved his family to Brisbane, with Toutai and his brother Steve – Wallaby no. 772 – attending Cooparoo State High before debuting for Souths.
In 1995 Toutai scored on his State debut at Ballymore with his very first touch of the ball. He is a Queensland captain and centurion and won the Stan Pilecki Medal as the “player’s player” in 2001.
He made his debut for the Wallabies in 1997 against South Africa in Pretoria, going on to win 60 caps as the Wallabies most-capped No. 8. He is a Rugby World Cup champion and in 2001 scored the memorable try which won the Bledisloe Cup – ensuring his captain John Eales finished his final Test a winner.
The first Pasifika Hall of Famer, Toutai blazed a trail for the remarkable contribution of Pasifika rugby to the Reds and Wallabies. Toutai is currently Queensland Rugby’s Vice President and coach of the Tongan national team.
