Former Queensland State of Origin forward Ben Te’o has completed a remarkable transition to rugby union by being named in the British and Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand.
The 30-year-old, who was part of the South Sydney side that won the 2014 NRL premiership, debuted for England in last year’s tour of Australia having qualified for his adopted country via his English-born mother.
His impressive performances during the recent Six Nations tournament have earned him a place in Warren Gatland’s 41-man squad against the land of his birth.
The selection caps off a circuitous career for Te’o, who moved to the Gold Coast from Auckland as a teenager after playing for the Junior Kiwis side.
In 2007 he made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers and was capped by Samoa 12 months later before returning to south-east Queensland with the Brisbane Broncos.
His move to Suncorp Stadium led to selection for Queensland in game three of the 2012 Origin campaign and he came off the bench five more times for Mal Meninga’s side in the next two series.
Te’o then enjoyed a successful two-year stint with Souths, where he helped the Rabbitohs end their long wait for a 21st premiership before announcing a move to rugby with Irish side Leinster before joining Worcester last year.
He exited the Rabbitohs for the 15-man game with Sam Burgess who joined Bath in a high-profile move.
His former housemate struggled and returned to Redfern after just a year having been made a scapegoat for England’s disastrous World Cup campaign on home soil.
But Te’o has flourished to become the first ever Worcester Warriors player to be selected for the Lions.
SAVAGE
Guest
Jaime Roberts clone mark 2.
robert
Guest
2015 world cup final........lesser nations?
robert
Guest
more kiwis than scottish players picked lol
Bob
Guest
Nah bro the lionz ull wun 10-0
ClarkeG
Guest
And he has a dangerous habit of leading with his forearm into contact when carrying.
ClarkeG
Guest
But selectors don't necessarily select on form...recent form I mean. That would only be part of the equation.
ClarkeG
Guest
If he was ever in contention then he had his name scratched after Twickenham ...I imagine.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
And SBW has been spectacularly unsuccessful, albeit for one of those lesser rugby nations.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
James - They also tried it with Jason Robinson
Mike Julz
Guest
I would take the risk and put him on the bench against the All Blacks. Dude is one hard ball runner.
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Don't give them ideas, Fionn!
Centreman
Guest
Finn Russell should be on the tour. He's the only British 10 that has any chance of matching Beauden Barrett or Aaron Cruden's skill level.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
And there's me thinking it meant so much more than that to so, so many. Silly me.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I reckon that Sam Whitelock could play fullback better than Folau, Jacko :)
Jacko
Guest
Nah props and locks dont play fullback or wing very well at all.
Jacko
Guest
Not to mention he played junior rugby in NZ as a youngster
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
What's Burgess got to do with Teo? Yeah they both came from league but that's about it, they were sufficiently different players in style in that code. Burgess was perhaps a long shot to transition to rugby centres but Teo played wider and, like a lot of league running backrowers, often played what was effectively in the centres in league, and was always a candidate to transition to rugby centres.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Simple really. SH rugby is where SHers play and coach. NH rugby is where NH and SHers play and coach. Youll get the hang of it after a while.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I wish I understood what 'NH rugby' actually meant about as much as I wish I understood what 'SH rugby' is supposed to mean. I just don't know how to enter Spiro's time warp and join the rest of you.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
hmmm unable to edit my comment to: Seems to have two too many fullbacks/wingers. Perhaps another lock and prop would provide better balance and depth.