When there was a gap in the international window, Kefu also served as the head coach of Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship.
He made his international test debut for Australia at the age of 23, coming off the bench against South Africa on 23 August during the 1997 Tri Nations Series.
Later that year he scored the try which beat the All Blacks to retain the Bledisloe Cup, giving his Skipper, John Eales, a perfect send off, as this was his last game for the Wallabies.
After failing to make the 2003 Rugby World Cup squad, Kefu signed with Kubota Spears in the Top League in Japan, leaving the Queensland Reds after earning 103 caps for his state.
In his first season in charge, he led the Stingrays to the Senior Championship title, defeating Gold Coast 37–12 in the final.
[8] Following his leave from the Tongan national team, Kefu became the head coach of his former club Kubota Spears in Japan.
[10][11] Unfortunately, in the 2014–15 Top League season, Kubota Spears finished fifth in their group which meant they played in the Promotion and relegation play-offs.
[13] Kefu was only able to lead his side to a single victory during their campaign, coming against finalist and table leaders New South Wales Country Eagles 40–38.
[14] Kefu started his reign as Tongan head coach with a 23–18 loss to Fiji, though Tonga did lead the Fijians 15–0 at half time.
Two weeks late, Kefu led Tonga into their first home game since 2009 - against Samoa in the first round of the 2017 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.
Due the COVID-19 pandemic, Tonga didn't next play until 2021, which commenced with a 102–0 defeat to New Zealand, followed by back-to-back losses to Samoa during the opening phases of the 2023 Rugby World Cup – Oceania qualification.
They secured their first win against the Cook Islands by the end of July, seeing them advance to a play-off match against Hong Kong in 2022.
Kefu is married to his wife Rachel and they have an adult son and daughter and live in Coorparoo, a suburb of Brisbane.
[18] Reportedly the Kefus were at home when three people broke in and a brawl erupted during which Kefu was stabbed in the liver and abdomen.