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Sekope Kepu proud of Wallabies squad diversity

Sekope Kepu is leaving London Irish. (Getty)

Veteran Sekope Kepu is proud of the increasing diversity of the Wallabies, with around half of Australia’s Rugby World Cup squad of Polynesian and Pacific Island heritage.

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The senior figure of the group is 33-year-old Kepu, of Tongan descent, who has amassed 105 caps, a record for a Wallabies prop.

When Australia won their first World Cup in 1991, the team included Tongan-born powerhouse Willie Ofahengaue.

Eight years later, the triumphant 1999 Wallabies side included another explosive backrower of Tongan heritage in Toutai Kefu.

But Ofahengaue and Kefu were the only Polynesians in their respective starting XVs.

The proportion of Polynesian and Pacific Islanders in Australia’s World Cup squads has increased substantially at more recent tournaments, with around a quarter of the 2011 party fitting into that category and about one third in 2015.

The fathers of Kepu’s fellow 2019 World Cup Wallabies front rowers Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa were both part of the group which represented Samoa at the 1991 tournament.

“They migrated to Australia and played club rugby here and must be very proud parents to see how their sons represent Australia and now go to a World Cup,” Kepu told AAP.

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“That’s always a father’s dream. That would be very nice for me to have one of my boys do that.

“There is that Polynesian movement back in those days. Now you are seeing more and more come through the ranks

“It’s great diversity, There’s no better country than Australia, harvesting all the different cultures and all the ethnicities that travel to Australia for a better life.”

Kepu will move to England to play for London Irish after appearing at his third World Cup, which looms as his international swan song.

“I think this will be my last crack at and I am definitely going to make the most of the rest of the season in the Wallabies jersey and environment,” he said.

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– AAP

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TI 3 hours ago
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Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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