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.
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.