Former NRL star makes international debut in rugby union

Josh McAllister

Former NRL star Solomone Kata made his international debut in rugby union for Tonga in the autumn internationals. 

Solomone Kata, 26, was named in the starting XV against England over the weekend at Twickenham.

The former NRL centre represented Tonga Under-21s in rugby union before making the switch to rugby league with New Zealand Warriors. Kata played 93 games for New Zealand Warriors after making his first-grade debut back in 2015. He later joined Melbourne Storm, but didn’t make an appearance before switching back to rugby union.

In rugby league, he won seven caps for Tonga and five caps for New Zealand.

Rugby Union career

He joined Brumbies, going on to make 15 appearances in Super Rugby.

Just as he was cementing his place with the Brumbies, Kata opted to stay in Auckland to be close to his family during a Covid-impacted season.

He has signed with Moana Pasifika for their debut Super Rugby Pacific season in 2022.

Wearing shirt number 11, Kata was sent to the bin for ten minutes in the 34th minute on his international debut. His side were defeated 69-3, with England running in 11 tries.

Tonga’s Solomone Kata tackles England’s Jonny May before being sin-binned during the Autumn international.

Elsewhere in rugby league

Former Super League forward and Ireland international Tyrone McCarthy has returned to the game with a new coaching role. The Warrington-born player has returned to his junior amateur club Woolston as coaching consultant.

Toulouse have signed Scotland international Matty Russell to their squad for their inaugural Super League campaign in 2022.