NRL Star's Unlikely Encounter Sparks Culinary Revelation
In an unexpected cultural exchange, Cronulla Sharks forward and Tongan national team captain Addin Fonua-Blake has revealed his unusual post-game meal preference after a chance meeting with a world-famous polyglot influencer. The encounter occurred when Japanese-Irish influencer Yuji Beleza, renowned for surprising strangers by speaking their native language, spotted the rugby league star emerging from a motel.
Beleza, who claims fluency in approximately 30 languages including English, Japanese, Russian, German and Turkish, approached Fonua-Blake after noticing his Los Angeles Lakers jersey. Initially mistaking the athlete for a basketball player, the influencer quickly discovered he was speaking to one of the NRL's most prominent figures.
The Tongan Tradition Behind Lo'i Hoosi
Speaking entirely in Tongan during their conversation, Beleza posed a direct question to the Sharks front-rower: 'Do you eat horsemeat?' Fonua-Blake's affirmative response revealed his preference for lo'i hoosi, a traditional Tongan dish that combines horsemeat with coconut cream, onions and the root vegetable taro.
This culinary practice represents an important cultural tradition maintained by Tongan communities both in their homeland and abroad. The dish frequently features at family gatherings and local markets, serving as a connection to cultural heritage for diaspora communities.
Horsemeat itself is considered slightly sweeter than beef, with a tender texture, high protein content and lower fat levels than many other red meats. Despite its nutritional benefits, the consumption of horsemeat remains uncommon in many Western nations, including Australia, where horses are primarily viewed as companion animals rather than livestock.
Global Perspectives on Horsemeat Consumption
The conversation between the NRL star and social media influencer has highlighted how dietary practices vary significantly across cultures. New Zealand Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams recently caused similar surprise when she revealed on TikTok that she regularly consumes horsemeat.
The four-time World champion and double Olympic gold medallist shot-putter explained that during her time in Europe, purchasing horsemeat was completely normal. 'In Europe, eating horsemeat is quite natural. You can buy horse fillet from the butcher,' Adams stated. 'I bought horse jerky in Switzerland when I was living there, it was quite normal. Don't knock it until you try it. It's actually quite tasty.'
In France, specialised horsemeat butchers still display distinctive horse head signs outside their premises. Within Australia, a small number of butchers hold special licences to sell horsemeat, primarily catering to specific cultural communities or for export purposes.
The exchange between Fonua-Blake and Beleza concluded positively on social media, with the influencer thanking the rugby league star on Instagram and Fonua-Blake responding that he was impressed by the encounter. The Sharks forward is currently enjoying the NRL off-season following his participation in the recent Pacific Championships.
