One former Super League full-back and current Championship stalwart has announced when he will hang up the boots.
Sheffield Eagles icon Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e has confirmed that he will call time on his career after his testimonial match in January.
Laulu-Togaga’e, commonly referred to by his initials of QLT, suffered a heart attack whilst training – as confirmed by the club on social media in January this year.
Speaking at the time, he said: “Not how I wanted to start the new year but grateful to still be here. On Thursday, I suffered a heart attack after a training session at the gym. If it wasn’t for my wife, who forced me to go to the hospital, the outcome could have been different
“This experience has been a wake-up call for me. It’s a reminder that life is unpredictable and precious and we should cherish every moment. It’s also a reminder of how blessed I am to have great people in my life!!”
Fast forward almost a year and it has been confirmed that the 40-year-old will take to the pitch as a player for the final time on January 10th, representing Sheffield in a testimonial match against his former Super League side Castleford Tigers.
Ex-Super League man confirms retirement
Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e will hang-up his boots from Rugby League following the conclusion of his testimonial game, which takes place on Friday 10th January 2025, against Castleford Tigers.
💬 We sit down with QLT and he reflects on his career, picking out key moments such as… pic.twitter.com/i8wCuGGJKt
— Sheffield Eagles (@SheffieldEagles) December 28, 2024
Whilst QLT made a full recovery from that heart attack, he did not play for the Eagles during the 2024 season and – with his testimonial looming – has confirmed that he will now hang up the boots.
It brings a close to a career that saw him start off Down Under before arriving at Sheffield in 2011 as a two-time Samoan international. During his first spell with the Eagles, he would play almost 200 times before joining Toronto, Halifax and then Castleford Tigers.
He would make nine appearances for the Super League side, scoring six tries, but he would swiftly return to Fax before making it back to Sheffield by 2022 by way of Newcastle and Keighley.
His testimonial game against Castleford Tigers on January 10th will be his last run out in Eagles colours – something he confirmed in a video shared by the club on social media.
“It’s been a year since I had my heart attack,” he noted before adding: “I’m grateful to Sheffield Eagles and Castleford Tigers for allowing me to play in my testimonial game.
“That will be my last game. I’m calling time on my rugby league career.
“I’m obviously disappointed that I couldn’t play this year with what happened with my heart attack but hopefully I get to play in one last game in my testimonial and finish on a high.
“Thank you to everyone I’ve been involved with throughout my whole career, the clubs I’ve played for, the people who have helped me and a massive thank you to my wife and my kids.
“They’ve been with me throughout my rollercoaster. I love you all.”
