Emerging Powerhouse: Tupou Francis Ready to Ignite Lebanon's World Cup Campaign

Multi-eligible teenage prodigy Tupou Francis has declared his allegiance to Lebanon, bringing elite training experience and explosive form to the Cedars ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

The 18-year-old forward is currently balancing a massive career trajectory. At the domestic level, he has been tipped to step into the frontline Brisbane Broncos pack vacancy created by South Sydney-bound superstar Payne Haas. On the international stage, his heritage gave him the rare luxury of choosing between Australia, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Tonga, or Lebanon. Ultimately, a personal pursuit from Cedars head coach Michael Cheika solidified his decision.

"Michael Cheika reached out directly over the phone to tell me he is tracking my progress for the national team," Francis revealed. "While selections aren't finalized, I am absolutely putting my hand up to wear the Lebanon jersey."

A Standout Pedigree and Origin Dominance

Francis recently put the rugby league world on notice during the Under 19s State of Origin showcase at North Sydney Oval. Spearheading Queensland's 28-14 victory over New South Wales, the young forward delivered a masterclass performance that included:

• Two individual tries
• A clinical line break
• Two broken tackles
• 35 defensive tackles

Following his dominant display, the Lebanon Rugby League federation issued a public statement celebrating the achievement, noting that the future of the national team looks incredibly bright with the Francis brothers anchoring the squad for years to come.

Deep Family Ties and International Rivalries

Football runs exceptionally deep in the Francis household. Tupou’s older brother, Tony Francis, plays winger for the Gold Coast Titans and is also in line for Cedars selection.

On his maternal side, Francis is the nephew of legendary forward John Hopoate. This connection allowed him to enter the Tongan national camp during last year's Pacific Championships to train alongside superstars Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake.

This complex family tree sets up a fascinating narrative for the upcoming World Cup pool stages. Should both Francis brothers make the final Lebanon squad, they will line up directly against their first cousin, Lehi Hopoate, when the Cedars clash with Tonga at CommBank Stadium on October 23.

Preparing for the World Stage

Lebanon will launch their tournament schedule in Port Moresby against Papua New Guinea on October 17, before returning to Sydney for matches against Tonga and France. Francis credits his daily environment at the Broncos - training alongside premier forwards Pat Carrigan, Xavier Willison, and Payne Haas - for preparing him for the physical demands of international football.

"I feel incredibly blessed to have family members like Will and Lehi Hopoate who have navigated the NRL path," Francis said. "Training with the Tongan squad last year was an invaluable learning curve. Right now, I'm just taking things step-by-step, focusing on working hard, and earning my spot. Making it to the NRL and playing on the world stage would mean everything after all the sacrifices my family has made."