Interview by Matt Brown
📷 -@jeff_tallen
​To many rugby fans in the UK and Ireland, the name Jeff Toomaga-Allen will be somewhat familiar. The 35-year-old prop spent time in the Premiership with Wasps before swapping Coventry for the URC with Ulster.
​But now the Samoan international (who is also a capped All Black) plies his trade a little closer to home, featuring for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. JTA started on the bench over the weekend as the latest Super Rugby season kicked off, with his Reds side beaten by the Waratahs (36-12).
​I spoke to him earlier this week for a few quick-fire questions regarding the season ahead. Here’s what he had to say.
📷 -@jeff_tallen
MB: Jeff, you’re obviously still with the Queensland Reds this season. How happy are you to be playing there ahead of the new campaign?
JTA: I’m stoked. I still love the game and I still enjoy proving myself with these young bucks!
MB: As a more experienced member of the side, what sort of advice do you give to the younger players around you?
JTA: I tell them to enjoy the moments! But I also tell them to look after their money. It’s so easy to let money slip through the cracks, so wise up about where your dollars are going and ensure you keep good company along the way.
MB: What are the expectations for the Reds this season?
JTA: Hopefully some finals footy! It’s a young, energetic group looking for some silverware. It almost feels like we’re underdogs.
MB: You mentioned those young, energetic players—who would you say are the ones to look out for this year?
JTA: I’m not really sure about the rest of the league, but at the Reds, we’ve got some good talent coming through. Keep an eye out for Xavier Rubens and Trevon Pritchard in particular.
MB: Obviously, you guys want silverware, but who would you say are the favorites for the title this time?
JTA: I hate to say it, but the Crusaders are always the favorites given their history. I’d like to think we’ll stay under the radar until finals time.
MB: You say you want to stay under the radar, but who else do you think are the dark horses?
JTA: For me, it’s probably Moana Pasifika.
MB: We’ve seen a lot of players moving from Super Rugby to Japan, and the Japanese league certainly seems to be growing. Do you think there comes a day where they are involved with Super Rugby to form a bigger league?
JTA: I almost feel like they could engulf Super Rugby and perhaps amalgamate it into their league eventually.
📷 -@jeff_tallen
MB: You’ve spent time in the URC and the Premiership. Just how different is Super Rugby compared to those two?
JTA: The physicality and the pace are different. Given the weather in the North, it’s tailored more to a physical and tight game, whereas historically Super Rugby has always been played at a faster pace. I’d say the URC is the closest to Super Rugby in terms of how I was playing in 2019, with the travel and the mix-paced game.
MB: So, why should we be watching Super Rugby this season?
JTA: It’s an exciting brand of rugby. I think there’s lots of talent coming through and the league will bring a lot of entertainment this season!
MB: Finally, what’s next for JTA? Many people know you’ve got a great personality—do you think a career in media could be calling?
JTA: I’m not sure, to be honest. I’d love to do a bit of everything. I think as long as I’m helping people that’d be best—and getting paid! The fam gotta eat.
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