Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has posted a message expressing gratitude for the support received after the former Wallabies star and his family were attacked during a home invasion this week.

Kefu has undergone surgery and was said to be “recovering well” on Tuesday after being stabbed during an attempted burglary at his Brisbane home.

The 47-year-old was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Monday with his wife, a son and a daughter after three teenagers allegedly broke into their house.

On Wednesday, Kefu posted a positive message on Facebook.

Another of Kefu’s daughters, Olivia, posted an update on social media soon after a 15-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder.

“Both Josh and Dad had their surgeries yesterday and are recovering well,” she wrote, adding that her sister Madi and mother Rachel were due to be operated on Tuesday.

“Thank you to everyone for all the kind messages and support, it means the absolute world to us all.”

Kefu was a powerful No.8 who played 60 times for Australia over a seven-year international career, helping them win the World Cup in 1999.

He was appointed head coach of the Tongan national side in 2016 and steered them to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Police on Monday described his condition as “critical” after he was stabbed in the stomach, while his wife had “very, very serious lacerations to her arm”.

The 15-year-old suspect — who was tackled by neighbours at the scene — was charged with four counts of attempted murder, among a host of other offences.

In total, two boys, 15 and 13, have been charged over the alleged incident and remain in custody. A third boy, 15, is in hospital under police guard.

© Agence France-Presse