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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 2016, Tonga had a population of 100,651, 70% of whom resided on the main island, Tongatapu.
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.
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.
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.
Australian rules football in Tonga has its origins in local schools the 1980s, but has been played on an organised basis only since 2003, when the game's governing body, the Tonga Australian Football Association was founded.
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.
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.
Salesi Finau is a Tongan former rugby footballer. He represented Tonga in both the rugby league and rugby union sides.
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.
Enele Taufa is a Tongan rugby footballer who has represented Tonga at both rugby league and rugby union.
Willie Wolfgramm is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at two World Cups.
Lotoha'apai United is a Tongan football club located in Veitongo, Tonga. It currently plays in Tonga Major League. The team is record champion of the league and made its continental debut in the 1999 Oceania Club Championship preliminary round.
Ngele'ia FC is a Tongan football club located in Kolofou, Tonga. It played in the Lion Shield, the top level of football competition in Tonga, from at least 1971 until 2009, winning four outright titles and one shared title in the seventies and eighties. They are the second most successful team in Tonga in terms of top-flight league titles after Lotoha'apai SC and also the most successful team in the Tonga Cup, the premier knockout competition in Tongan football, winning nine of the twelve known competitions.
Tonga's National Tag Rugby Team is also known as Laione Hau. The figurative symbol of the lion is synonymous with The King of Tonga and historic battles fought and conquered by Tongan kings and warriors. The governing body for tag rugby or flag football for Tonga is called Tonga Tag. Tag rugby is the original creation of this growing sport. In most parts of The United States and Canada they called it flag football or American flag rugby. An increasing number of countries participate in the sport of tag rugby, including Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, France, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Fiji and Tonga. The International Woman's Flag Football Association also runs a tournament that involves countries like the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Mexico.
The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) was the governing body for rugby league in Tonga. It is based in the capital Nuku'alofa.
Jack Ram is a professional rugby union footballer. He plays for New England Free Jacks and represented Tonga sevens team and Tonga national team between 2009-2015.
Timote Polovili is a Tongan professional footballer and football manager. He was still an active player in the Tonga national football team in 2002 and played at 2002 Oceanian Nations Cup. In 2012, he coached the club Lotoha'apai United. Since 2011 he coached the Tonga national under-17 football team.
