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The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
The Fiji national rugby union team represents Fiji in men's international rugby union. Fiji competed in the Pacific Tri-Nations and now competes in its successor tournament Pacific Nations Cup. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. They have beaten the major rugby playing sides of Wales, Scotland, Australia, France, Italy, Argentina and England. The only major sides Fiji are yet to beat are New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.
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.
Rugby union is the national sport of Tonga. Tonga are considered to be a tier 2 rugby nation by the International Rugby Board.
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.
Inoke Afeaki is a Tongan former rugby union footballer, coach and administrator. He has played professionally in New Zealand, Japan, Wales, France and Tonga, and coached in France, New Zealand and Singapore. His usual playing position was at lock.
Taufa'ao Filise is a Tongan rugby union footballer who played over 250 games for the Cardiff Blues.
Sport in Tonga consists of many games. Rugby union is the national sport, 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.
Dan Lydiate is a Wales international rugby union player. A flanker, Lydiate was raised in Llandrindod Wells and is a product of the Newport Gwent Dragons academy.
Sateki Tuipulotu is a former rugby union footballer who played internationally for Tonga.
Bleddyn Taylor was a Welsh rugby union player who played club rugby for Swansea RFC, Pontypool RFC, Neath RFC, Llanelli RFC, and Dunvant RFC. He also represented Wales A, Wales Sevens, and the Barbarians.
Tangaki Taulupe Faletau, commonly known as Toby Faletau but professionally as Taulupe Faletau, is a Welsh professional rugby union player for Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship and has represented the Wales national team for over 10 years. The back row forward played for Cross Keys RFC, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales before joining Bath in England in 2016. He joined present club Cardiff in 2022.
Mateaki Fonnama'atonga Mafi, also known by the nickname of "Matti", is a Tongan dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer, and sprinter. He played representative rugby union (RU) for rugby league and representative rugby league (RL) for Tonga, most notably at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, and participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics as a 200m sprinter.
Liam Brian Williams is a Welsh professional rugby union player who will play for Kubota Spears in Japan Rugby League One following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. At international level, he has represented Wales, having made his test debut against New Zealand in 2012, and the British & Irish Lions in 2017 and 2021. Williams has previously played for Scarlets, Saracens, and Cardiff.
Kuli Faletau is a Tongan former international rugby union player who played as a lock. He is Tonga's most capped forward.
Hallam Benjamen Amos is a former Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff Rugby and Newport Gwent Dragons. He mostly played as a wing, but he was also capable of playing at fullback and as a centre. In October 2021, Amos announced his retirement from professional rugby union to focus on his medical career.
Manu Vunipola is a Tongan former rugby union player and former Tonga sevens coach. He played as scrum-half. Currently he is the Minister of Sport of Tonga.
Emori Katalau is a Fijian former rugby union player who played as lock. He is nicknamed "Skylab" due to his line-out jumps. Currently, he coaches Rhigos RFC.
Carwyn Tuipulotu is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker or number 8.
Katilimoni Tuipulotu is a Tongan former international rugby union player.
References
- ↑ "Dunvant after World Cup players". South Wales Evening Post . 23 October 1999.
- ↑ "Rob and Ken compile a cracking team for The Otters!". Pembrokeshire Sport.
- ↑ "Narberth rugby player's Robeston Wathen bride". Tenby Observer . 16 July 2004.