photo credit: Davey Wilson / Utah Warriors Rugby
Tonga Kofe is making the jump from Major League Rugby to the English Premiership. The newly-minted USA Eagles tighthead prop has signed on with Leicester Tigers, making the move to the top flight after just two seasons of professional rugby with the Utah Warriors.
At 29 years old Kofe is something of a late bloomer having made the switch to rugby after playing collegiate football with Portland State University. After making just six appearances as a replacement in 2024, he burst into Eagles contention by anchoring the Warriors front row alongside Samoa international Aki Seiuli and former All Black hooker Liam Coltman in 2025.
Standing 6’2″ (1.87m) and tipping the scales in the neighborhood of 310 lbs (140kg), Kofe will have no problems handling the physicality of the Premiership. He now has three test caps to his name and is set to add to his resume during the Pacific Nations Cup. Kofe is set to become the latest USA international to play for Leicester, with former Eagles skipper Blaine Scully’s tenure the most notable.
