Tonga, officially named the Kingdom of Tonga, is a Polynesian country, and also an archipelago comprising 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. The archipelago's total surface area is about 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean. As of 2021, Tonga had a population of 104,494, 70% of whom resided on the main island, Tongatapu. The country stretches across approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) in a north–south line. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest; Samoa to the northeast; New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to the west; Niue to the east; and Kermadec to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi) from New Zealand's North Island.
Tag rugby, or flag rugby, is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two velcro tags attached to it, or shorts with velcro patches. The mode of play is based on rugby league with many similarities to touch football, although tag rugby is often deemed a closer simulation of the full contact codes of rugby than touch. Attacking players attempt to dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders attempt to prevent them scoring by "tagging" – pulling a velcro attached tag from the ball carrier, rather than a full contact tackle. Tag rugby is used in development and training by both rugby league and rugby union communities.
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby league football.
The Tonga national rugby union team represents Tonga in men's international rugby union and it's nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.
The Tonga national rugby league team represents Tonga in rugby league football. They are currently the third ranked team in the world. The team was formed to compete in the 1986 Pacific Cup, and have competed at five Rugby League World Cups, starting in 1995 and continuing consecutively until the most recent tournament in 2017, where they achieved their best ever result as semi-finalists.
Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Tonga.
Toutai Kefu is a Tonga-born rugby coach, who earned 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian national team. Kefu is currently the head coach of the Tongan national team having previously coached them as a caretaker in 2012. He is also the Assistant Coach of the First 15 at Iona College. He is additionally the head coach of the Australian side Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship, while there is a break between international windows.
Rugby union is the national sport of Tonga. Tonga are considered to be a tier 2 rugby nation by the International Rugby Board.
Nili Latu, playing name of Otenili Langilangi is a Tongan rugby union footballer. In 2018, Latu left Newcastle Falcons after helping Falcons achieve 4th in the Aviva Premiership, the highest finish in 20 years. He moved to Japan to continue playing rugby.
This is a history of the Tonga national rugby league team.
Duane Darrin Mann is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s. A Tonga and New Zealand international representative hooker, he captained both sides. Mann played his club football for New Zealand sides Glenora, North Harbour, Auckland Warriors and Counties Manukau, as well as for English club, Warrington.
Soane Tonga'uiha is a Tongan-born, New Zealand-educated, rugby union player and coach. He plays for Chinnor and internationally for Tonga. His position of choice is loose-head prop, although he sometimes plays at tight-head. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.
Rugby union is the national sport in Tonga. Sumo has a following, while football, judo, surfing, volleyball, and cricket have gained popularity in recent years. Rugby league and Australian football are also played.
Fetu'u Moana Vainikolo is a Tongan rugby union player who currently plays wing for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Okara Park, currently known commercially as Semenoff Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Whangarei, New Zealand. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Northland Rugby Union. The stadium is able to hold 18,500 people and was built in 1965.
Ukuma Ta'ai is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row, loose forward or prop for the Newcastle Thunder in the Betfred Championship and Tonga at international level.
Willie Wolfgramm is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at two World Cups.
Jimmy Veikoso is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at the 1995 World Cup.
K. Manakaetau F. 'Otai is coach of the Tonga national team. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland and played club rugby in Auckland. His playing position was as flanker. Otai represented Tonga, being capped for the first time on 11 February 1995 against Japan at Nagoya. Otai was the Tongan team captain in the 1995 Rugby World Cup competition, in which he scored a try. Otai was an All Black trialist in 1994.
Sean Alfred Uilisi "Willis" Halaholo is a rugby union player who plays as a centre for the Cardiff Blues and the Wales national team. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, to parents of Tongan descent, he qualified to play for Wales on residency grounds after moving to the country in 2016. Earlier that year, he was part of the Hurricanes team that won its first ever Super Rugby title.
