Frizell brothers Tyson and Shannon targeting double international success
- Published
Tyson Frizell celebrates scoring against England on his Tonga debut
On Saturday, two brothers will be playing on separate sides of the English channel, for different nations and in two rugby disciplines.
Tyson Frizell turns out for Tonga against England in a rugby league international in Huddersfield in the afternoon, while his brother Shannon will start at blindside flanker for New Zealand's union side in the evening's Rugby World Cup final against South Africa in Paris.
Their father Andrew was born in Swansea, but while he may have lost his Welsh accent since moving to Australia, the ties to Wales remain "strong".
Speaking to Radio Wales Sport, Tyson Frizell said: "Dad and his brother grew up in Swansea.
"My grandparents still live with my parents (in Australia) and have their Welsh accent, though dad has lost that and the connection to my Welsh side is still very strong."
Tyson himself has kept his Welsh ties, making his debut for the nation of his father's birth back in 2011 before playing for Wales at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
"It feels like a long time ago now," said Frizell, now 32.
"I was able to taste international footy for the first time and what a test that was in 2011 against England, we got absolutely hammered.
"But it was one to remember and that's where my international career kicked off."
Since then, Frizell has featured for both Australia - with whom he won a Rugby League World Cup in 2017 - and now Tonga, scoring a try on debut in last weekend's 22-18 loss to England in St Helen's.
Highlights: England 22-18 Tonga
History maker and the draw of union
In that game Frizell made history, becoming the first player to play rugby league for three different countries.
"It's pretty cool and a stat I can look back on at the end of my career," said Frizell.
"To represent my mother [with Tonga], my father from the start [with Wales] and me growing up in Australia.
"It's something I never thought I'd be able to do, but something I'm very proud to be able to do."
While his 29-year-old brother Shannon has made a successful career in union with 32 appearances for the All Blacks, Tyson decided against making the switch, even after the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) came calling.
"There always was the option to potentially go towards union but with me doing what I was doing in rugby league, I never saw myself leaving," said the six-time Wales rugby league international.
"I felt like I had unfinished business and wanted to achieve a lot more things in rugby league, and now I'm coming to the back end of my career that option probably won't happen."
Tyson says he will be watching on "proudly" when his brother faces South Africa on Saturday for the Webb Ellis Cup, and urges Welsh fans to get behind both his Tongan side and the All Blacks for a record fourth World Cup triumph.
"This is Shannon's second World Cup for New Zealand and could potentially be his last as he's heading off to Japan after this," said Frizell.
"World Cups don't come around very often and I'm lucky enough to have won one, but rugby union is a larger sport across the world.
"Shannon's got ties to Wales and I do too, so we need every Welsh fan backing us. The Welsh people are very strong and passionate people so I hope they get behind us.
"I'll be cheering him on and wishing him all the best, hopefully he can come away this weekend with a World Cup win and I'm excited to watch him play."
You can listen to the full interview with Tyson Frizell on Radio Wales Sport on Friday, 27 October, or on BBC Sounds. Also available after transmission on demand.