Braden Uele, the Cronulla Sharks forward, has announced he's returned to his original surname to reflect family priorities.
Previously he used 'Hamlin-Uele' to honour his late grandfather and to maintain ties with relatives in England.
That choice also influenced the middle name he gave his newborn son.
He named the boy Easton Wahangu Hamlin Uele so the Hamlin name remains part of the family line.
"When I first put Hamlin in my surname, I did it in honour of my Grandfather that passed away at the time.
"It was a connection piece for myself and my family in England to stay closer than what could have happened when he passed away; it could have caused loss of contact.
Uele told Sharks Media he now feels it's the right moment to use Uele as his legal surname so he and his son share the same surname.
"To have my son, his name is Easton Uele, or Easton Wahangu Hamlin Uele.
"Hamlin is his middle name, so his legal surname is Uele.
"So I thought it was a perfect time to go back to Uele to represent my son and have the same surname as my son."
He also spoke about his grandfather's influence, recalling how he was a constant supporter at junior games and a strong role model.
The change formalizes a decision rooted in both respect for family history and a desire for a shared identity with his child.
Uele continues his career at Cronulla while representing both Kiwi and Samoan sides, with family remaining central to his choices off the field.