The Australian Rugby League team has been announced for the upcoming 2017 Rugby League World Cup. The team includes two former Mate Ma’a Tonga players, Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks) and Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm).  A third player of Tongan descent in the squad is Tyson Lomano Frizell (St. George Illawarra Dragons).

Both Fifita and Kaufusi had previously stated their intentions to play for Tonga if they did not get picked to play for the Kangaroos. Tyson Frizell (25) represented Wales in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and made his debut for the Kangaroos last year.

Felise Kaufusi (25) of the Melbourne Storm, scored a try in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday, helping the Storm to win the NRL premiership in a 34 – 6 thrashing of the North Queensland Cowboys. Kaufusi played for Tonga in the Pacific Test series earlier this year in which Tonga narrowly defeated Fiji 26 – 24. He has never played for Australia before and will make his debut in the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

Andrew Fifita (28) has played seven games for the Kangaroos since 2013. He played once for Tonga in 2010 and was scheduled to play in the Pacific Test match against Fiji earlier this year but pulled out after a late call up by the Kangaroos.

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is being hosted in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Tonga has been listed in Group B and will play New Zealand, Samoa and Scotland. The Tonga National Rugby League is expected to announce the team list for the Mate Ma’a Tonga soon.