True Blue Tyson Frizell will now have the distinction of playing for three countries when he makes his debut for Tonga in this year’s historic Test series against England - the Pacific nation’s first UK tour.
Frizell, 31, brings a wealth of experience to the Tongan side as well as excellent form after scoring four tries for the Newcastle Knights this year – his most in the NRL since 2018 – and making his return to the Westpac NSW Blues team, taking his Origin caps tally to 16.
The hard-running back-rower made his international debut at age 20 for Wales in the 2011 World Cup, and again in 2013 for five Tests in total. He was born in Australia to a Welsh father and a Tongan mother.
He then made his Australian debut at the 2016 Four Nations Cup and has 14 Tests for the Kangaroos to his name.
Now Frizell has the chance to honour his mother’s heritage for the first time.
He is one of four True Blues in coach Kristian Woolf’s squad alongside Will Hopoate, Daniel Tupou and Keaon Koloamatangi, who made his Origin debut in the Blues’ Game Three victory (24-10) this year.
Tonga’s first game against England will be at St Helens’ Wicked Stadium on 22 October. The second is on 28 October in Huddersfield and the third at Headingley on 4 November.
Samoa has also announced its squad for this month’s Pacific Championships starting with a Test against the Kangaroos in Townsville on 14 October.
There are four True Blues named by new coach Ben Gardiner, including Penrith NRL Premiership-winners Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Parramatta’s Junior Paulo, who played his 11th Origin game in 2023, and Blues debutant in Game Two Stefano Utoikamanu.
NSW extended squad member, Spencer Leniu, was also selected in the Samoan side for the upcoming tournament.
