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The Tonga national rugby union team represents Tonga in men's international rugby union 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 fourth 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.
Awen Guttenbeil is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he went on to work as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code. In 2010 he coached his schoolboy club Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield alongside former team mate and childhood friend Stacey Jones. He represented both the Tongan and New Zealand national sides in his long career and played in two World Cups. His position of preference was in the Second-Row. He was an integral part of the 2002 New Zealand Warriors squad, noted for being the first team in the club's history to make the NRL Grand Final. He now owns and operates several construction businesses in New Zealand including Passive Fire NZ.
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Willie Wolfgramm is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at two World Cups.
Ben Murdoch-Masila is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, second-row and lock for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.
Paul Fisiiahi is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at the 2000 World Cup and plays for the Howick Hornets. He is the identical twin of fellow Tongan International David..
Esau Mann is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at the 2000 World Cup. He is a cousin and brother of fellow internationals Duane and George Mann.
Daniel Vasau is a Tongan rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at the 2000 World Cup.
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Tu'iono Siosiua "Josh" Liava'a was a Tongan-born rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1975 World Cup.
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References
- ↑ RLP
- ↑ Brown, Michael (26 November 2006). "League: Farewell to Wiki, Jones and Vagana". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.187
- ↑ Jessup, Peter (20 October 1999). "Rugby League: Tongans not planning rough stuff". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 2 October 2011.