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The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – 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 fifth ranked team in the world. The team was formed to compete in the 1986 Pacific Cup, and have competed at six Rugby League World Cups, starting in 1995 and continuing consecutively until the most recent tournament. Their best result was at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, where they were semi-finalists.
Rodger Siaosi Toutai Kefu is a Tongan-Australian professional rugby union coach and former player who has been coaching the Tonga national team since 2016.
Aleki Lutui in Tofoa, Tonga, is a Tongan rugby union international player. His position is hooker. He is currently playing club rugby for Ampthill in RFU Championship.
Pierre Hola is an Australian-born former rugby union footballer. He represented Tonga and played club rugby in the Australian Shute Shield for Eastwood.
Taufa'ao Filise is a Tongan rugby union footballer who played over 250 games for the Cardiff Blues.
Taufa Fukofuka is a Tongan rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Mu'a Saints in the Tonga National Rugby League competition.
The Tongan National Rugby League is the major rugby league cup for semi-professional clubs in Tonga. Currently there are nineteen teams in the cup that compete annually in the national competition.
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.
Tevita Hale Nai Tu'uhoko, often known simply as Hale T-Pole or Hale T Pole, is a Tongan rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker or number eight for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan. He has also played internationally for Tonga and the Pacific Islanders.
Viliami Sikalamu "Sika" Manu is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for Tonga and New Zealand at international level, being a member of the World Cup winning Kiwi team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final.
Hudson Tonga'uiha born as Kosilio Tonga'uiha is a Tongan rugby footballer. He plays for London Welsh as a centre or fullback.
Ukuma Ta'ai is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row, loose forward or prop for the York Knights in the Betfred Championship and Tonga at international level.
Pakisonasi Afu is a professional rugby footballer who has represented Tonga in rugby league and Tonga A in rugby union. He is contracted to Austin Elite Rugby to play Major League Rugby in the United States. Afu previously played rugby league in the NSW Cup for New Zealand Warriors and Wyong Roos as a prop. His usual position in rugby union is centre.
The 2006 Pacific Cup was the 10th Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted in Auckland and eventually won by Tonga, who defeated Fiji in the final. Fiji's Asaeli Saravaki was the Player of the Tournament.
Toetu'u Taufa is a former Tongan-born Japanese rugby union player. He plays at the No. 8 position or at flanker. He plays for the Kintetsu Liners in Japan's Top League. Taufa debuted for Japan in 2009 against Kazakhstan. He made his first try for Japan in their game against Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup in 2009.
Jack Ram is a Tongan professional rugby union footballer. He plays for New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Tonga A is a national representative rugby union team of the Tongan rugby union. It is the second-tier side to the Tonga national rugby union team. Tonga A competes in the Pacific Challenge, formerly known as the Pacific Rugby Cup, against teams including Samoa A and Fiji Warriors. Since 2017, the team has also competed in the Americas Pacific Challenge.
Alasika S. Taufa, known also as Alaska Taufa is a Tongan former rugby union who played as wing. He is father of his namesake Alaska Taufa, who is also a Tongan rugby union international.
Anzelo Tuitavuki is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.
References
- ↑ Player Profile
- ↑ Pacific Cup Tongan National Rugby League