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| Rugby league in Tonga | |
|---|---|
| Country | Tonga |
| Governing body | Tonga National Rugby League (until 2019) Tonga Rugby League XIII (from 2024) |
| National team(s) | Men's Women's |
| First played | 1980s |
International competitions | |
Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Tonga.
The Tongan national team was formed to enter the 1986 Pacific Cup.
A domestic competition consisting of six clubs was launched in 1988. [1]
During the Super League war, Tonga joined the News Corp-backed Super League in June 1995. [2] [ further explanation needed ]
In February 2020, Tonga National Rugby League were expelled from the International Rugby League (IRL) [3] following refusal to enact necessary changes after the conclusion of an investigation by the IRL. [4] Said investigation came after Semisi Sika, then acting Prime Minister of Tonga, wrote to IRL expressing concerns that he had lost confidence in the governing body. [5] The expulsion did not affect the national team as the IRL had ordered Tonga to fulfil a fixture with Great Britain which was arranged before the investigation, setting a precedent for future matches, [5] a game which Tonga National Rugby League wanted removed from official test records (despite winning) as they were not governing the national team. [6]
In Autumn 2023, Tonga became the first Pacific Island Nation to tour a European Nation with their tour of England. [7]
On 22 August 2024, Tonga were re admitted to the IRL under the new governance of Tonga Rugby League XIII. [8]
The Tongan Rugby League competition comprises 12 teams in the first division, and 7 in the second. Following the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, the competition was renamed the Jason Taumalolo Cup. Age-restricted competitions were also named for Manu Vatuvei, Solomone Kata, Konrad Hurrell and Tuimoala Lolohea. [9]
The 12 teams in the first division are:
The 7 teams in the second division are:
There are 10 first division sides in the Global Insurance Cup and there are 9 in the second division. Only Kolomu'a Warriors (One of two Nuku'alofa Clubs) and the Vaini Doves have first and second division sides. The First Division sides have been, to a greater extent, regular participants in the competition since the inception of League in 1988. Those sides are Kolomu'a, Vaini, Mu'a Saints, Silapeluua (Ha'ateiho) Crusaders, Lapaha Knights, Ha'akame Broncos, Hihifo Rovers, Havelu Bulldogs, Halaloto Barbarians and Nakolo Raiders. The Second Division consists of a number of clubs that have participated infrequently over a number of years. However, regulars in the Second Division are Fatumu, Ha'ateiho Spartans and Ngalukilo Stormers.
The most recent competition (2013) was won by the Kolomua Warriors who defeated the Ha'akame Broncos in the grand final at Teufaiva Stadium in front of approximately 2 000 spectators.
Secondary Schools Competition started in 2007 with 5 teams in the under 18s competition and 8 teams in the Under 16s. Takuilau High School won the Under 18s competition and Liahona High School won the Under 16s competition. It is the largest number of teams and players participating in rugby league in Tongan history, with the National Schools Committee starting the Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 15s in 2008.
In 2013 the Secondary Schools Competition featured 8 schools with teams competing in Under 13s, Under 15s, Under 17's and Open's competitions. Tupou High School finished open age champions with Tonga College winning the U17's and Tupou College winning the Under 15's and U13's competition. Primary school rugby league was also introduced with Maufanga/Fanga and ACTS Community School winning the inaugural tournaments.
TNRL estimate that there are roughly 1,500 players playing rugby league in Tonga for 2007. [10]
The men's national team was formed in 1986 to enter the 1986 Pacific Cup. They have competed at five Rugby League World Cups (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, and 2017). They achieved their best result as semi-finalists in 2017.
The women's national team was formed in 2003 for the 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup. They competed at their second World Cup in 2008.
Tuʻi Kanokupolu (chiefs) are a junior rank of the Haʻa Tuʻi in Tonga.
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.
The Tuʻi Tonga Empire, or Tongan Empire, are descriptions sometimes given to Tongan expansionism and projected hegemony in Oceania which began around 950 CE, reaching its peak during the period 1200–1500.
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Kolonga is a village and the most populated settlement located on the northeast coast of Tongatapu in the Hahake District, Kingdom of Tonga. Kolonga is a hereditary estate of Lord Nuku.
Etuate Uaisele is a Tongan rugby league footballer who last played for the Dewsbury Rams in the Kingstone Press Championship. He plays as a winger or centre.
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.
The Catholic Church in Tonga is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the leadership of its local bishop in communion with the Bishop of Rome. It is estimated that approximately 16% of the population of the Pacific island Kingdom are Catholic, being 15,767 in 2004.1 Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi succeeded as Bishop of Tonga in 2008.
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.
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.
Bill Tupou is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a centre or on the wing for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League.
Sona Taumalolo is a former professional rugby union player. He played at prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup competition; the Chiefs in Super Rugby; several French clubs; and the Tonga national team. He retired at the end of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season.
Vaai Taumalolo, better known by the nickname Jason, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and New Zealand at international level.
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The Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) was the governing body for rugby league in Tonga. It is based in the capital Nuku'alofa.
Tuimoala Lolohea is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off or fullback for the Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League. He has played for both New Zealand and Tonga at international level.
The Tonga women's national rugby league team, is under the former governing body TNRL. The first Tonga women's team was in 2003 and known as the Mate Ma'a Tonga women's team administered by the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) body. The newly formed Tonga women's national rugby league incorporated is under the Tongan Government with the national men's team. TNRL are no longer the national administrating body for Tonga Rugby League.
The Rugby League Pacific Championship is a rugby league tournament for national teams in Oceania. Its inaugural tournament was in 2019.
