A contentious topic this NRL offseason has been the switching of allegiances between nations in rugby league.
With the International Rugby League allowing players to move from Tier 1 nations: Australia, New Zealand, and England to nations recognised within Tier 2 or 3 (all remaining countries with a professional rugby league side) there are constant discussions on international player eligibility.
At last year’s Rugby League World Cup, we saw numerous country switches and yet again with the upcoming Pacific Championships and Tonga vs. England series there have been more announced.
So, which players will represent a new nation within the month of competition?
Tonga – Tyson Frizell
Frizell’s debut with the Tongan national team will be his third country that he has represented across his career.
The Knights’ star second-rower started his international career with Wales in 2011 featuring in a total of six games for the country which included cameos in the Four Nations and Rugby League World Cup tournaments.
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He would then become a mainstay in the Australian Kangaroos side between 2016 and 2019 winning the World Cup in 2017 and World Cup 9’s in 2019.
Frizell enters the Tonga vs. England series in excellent form after being recalled to the NSW Blues this season.
Frizell claims his decision to join the Tongan national side was made to honour his mum.
"I am really proud to represent my mum (Sophia's) side of the family," Frizell said from the Tonga camp.
"It has come full circle. To play for Tonga is something I always wanted to do, and I'd been speaking to 'Woolfy' over the last two years about it."
Tonga - Siua Wong
Since suiting up for the Fijian national side at last year’s Rugby League World Cup, Wong has decided to switch countries ahead of the Tongan’s tour of England.
Wong, who was already heavily involved in the Fijian’s run to the Quarter Final at the World Cup in 2022, has only elevated his status in the sport this past year.
The damaging second-rower would have to wait patiently for his chance at the Roosters but took the opportunity with both hands once it arose.
With a Fijian father and a Tongan mother, Wong also has cultural links to China and Samoa through his grandparents.
This might not be Wong’s last national swap as he seems open to doing it again.
“I had always thought I had to be loyal to one but at the end of the day I am all four of those cultures and for me to give back to my family I would don any of those jerseys if they were available to me," Wong told NRL.com.
“When I play it isn’t just to represent myself but to represent my family as well, and if China has a team, I’ll rep them one day too.”
Samoa – Murray Taulagi
The switch from Taulagi to move from Australia to Samoa may come as a surprise to many as he represented the Kangaroos only a year ago.
Taulagi was included in the Kangaroos squad at the RLWC last year and even featured for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII in September of 2023.
Although the Cowboys underperformed in 2023, Taulagi continued to excel with his defensive display for the Maroons in Origin the highlight.
Taulagi joins what will be a formidable backline alongside Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Izack Tago, and Jesse Arthars.
He like many others contributed this decision to wanting to get closer to his family heritage.
“It was definitely my first preference to play for Samoa. I spoke to Mal about it at the PM’s and he sort of knew where my heart was and how I felt about it so he was very understanding,” Taulagi told NRL.com.
“Both of my parents are Samoan so it's a massive honour to represent my family and our small nation.
“It’s such a good, special feeling to be in this camp and get an opportunity to pull on the jersey.”
Australia – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Already one of the highest touted prospects coming into the 2023 season, the Hammer developed into a superstar in the Dolphins' debut season.
He owned this year’s Origin series as arguably the Maroons' best player with the State winning yet another series.
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Tabuai-Fidow joins the Kangaroos already capped for both Samoa at the RLWC and the Indigenous All-Stars in 2022.
With Tabuai-Fidow being selected for Australia’s Prime Minister XIII squad a month ago he made sure he made public who he wanted to represent at the Pacific Championships.
“It’s a dream to put on the Australian jersey and this is a good step for myself,” Tabuai-Fidow told NRL.com.
“I’d love to play for Samoa, I played for Samoa in the World Cup representing my dad’s side but it is one of my big dreams to put on the green and gold and if I did have that opportunity I would take it with both hands.”
