Queensland police have arrested and charged a 15-year-old boy with four counts of attempted murder, after an alleged attack inside the home of Wallabies great and Tonga coach Toutai Kefu.
Kefu, his wife and two children were injured, after he confronted the alleged attacker early Monday morning.
Kefu received stab wounds to his stomach and underwent surgery to save his life, while his wife and two children received moderate to significant injuries.
The alleged teenage attacker has been charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, breaking and entering, burglary and deprivation of liberty.
Another 14-year-old is also in custody.
According to Police, a family member woke to noise at about 3:15am local time and went to investigate.
Police allege the person was accosted by at least one of the offenders in the premises on Buena Vista Avenue in Coorparoo and they were threatened with stabbing if they did not hand over vehicle keys.
"Other members of the family then came to that person's aid and during that time, very significant injuries occurred to the family," says Detective Tony Fleming.
The attack was described as "brutal and violent", with an axe, knife and machete used.
Despite initial fears for Kefu's life, Fleming says the former Wallabies No. 8 is expected to survive,
"His initial condition was described as critical, but expected to survive.
"The mother has suffered very, very serious lacerations to her arm and I'm told her wounds are very significant."
Their 21-year-old son sustained significant wounds to his arm and back, and one of his daughters has cuts to her hand and arm. Police do not believe the attack was targeted.
"Mr Kefu is out of surgery and is stable now," Detective Fleming says.
"His son is still receiving treatment, and there's more treatment for Mrs Kefu and their daughter that will continue tomorrow [Tuesday]."
The 47-year-old was recently in New Zealand, coaching an under-strength Tongan side in a test against the All Blacks and two World Cup qualifiers against Manu Samoa.
Kefu earned 60 test caps for the Wallabies in a seven-year career, famously scoring a match-winning try against the All Blacks in a 2001 Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.
He won the Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1999 and has been head coach of Tonga since 2016.
