Ruon Tongyik

Ruon Tongyik

Personal information
Full name	Ruon Kuk Tongyik
Date of birth	(1996-12-28) 28 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth	Sudan (now South Sudan)
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Central defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013	Adelaide Olympic	28	(0)
2014–2016	Adelaide United NPL	28	(0)
2015–2016	Adelaide United	0	(0)
2016–2018	Melbourne City	15	(0)
2018–2019	Western Sydney Wanderers	2	(0)
2019	Brisbane Roar	8	(0)
2019–2022	Central Coast Mariners	41	(1)
2022–2024	Western Sydney Wanderers	4	(0)
2023	→ Mes Kerman (loan)	9	(1)
International career‡
2017–2018	Australia U23	3	(0)
2021–	Australia	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 June 2021

Ruon Kuk Tongyik is a professional soccer player who plays as a central defender for Western Sydney Wanderers. Born in South Sudan, he represents Australia internationally.

Club career

Melbourne City

After being named Adelaide United's "Youth Player of the Year", Tongyik joined Melbourne City in July 2016 on a two-year contract. ^{[1] [2]} He made his debut for City on 9 December 2016 in a 1–1 draw against Sydney FC at Stadium Australia. ^[3]

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 3 May 2018, Tongyik was released by Melbourne City and joined Western Sydney Wanderers. ^[4]

In January 2019, he was released by Western Sydney Wanderers. ^[5]

Brisbane Roar

On 6 February 2019 Brisbane Roar FC announced that Tongyik had signed for the club for the remainder of the 2018–19 season. ^[6]

Central Coast Mariners

In May 2019, Tongyik signed with Central Coast Mariners on a two-year deal. ^[7]

In June 2022, Tongyik was released at the conclusion of the 2021–22 season after two seasons with the Mariners. ^[8]

Return to Western Sydney Wanderers

In July 2022, Tongyik re-joined the Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year contract. ^[9]

Tongyik was then loaned to Persian Gulf Pro League club Mes Kerman in January 2023 on a year-long loan. ^[10] The club was relegated to the Azadegan League and imposed fines on the players which it tried to enforce by keeping their passports. ^{[11] [12]} At the end of the season, Tongyik returned to parent club Western Sydney Wanderers and was included in the squad for their first official game, the Round of 32 of the 2023 Australia Cup. ^{[13] [14]}

After Tongyik was granted bail at Penrith Local Court on 20 October 2023, Western Sydney Wanderers and Football Australia imposed a no-fault interim suspension from participating in football and club-related activities. ^[15]

International career

After representing Australia at under-23 level, he was called up by the South Sudan national team in September 2019. ^[16]

Tongyik received his first selection for the Australian national team in May 2021. ^[17] He made his international debut on 7 June 2021 in a World Cup Qualifier against Chinese Taipei. ^[18]

Personal life

Born in South Sudan, Tongyik lived there for about three years, and had stayed with relatives in Ethiopia while documents allowing him and his family to move to Australia were processed. Tongyik moved to Australia in 2003, aged 6. He has 3 younger sisters and 1 younger brother. They all currently live in Adelaide. ^[19]

Sexual assault charge

On 20 October 2023, Tongyik was charged with aggravated sexual assault, causing actual bodily harm in connection with an alleged incident that occurred almost five years prior in Mount Druitt. The alleged incident involved Tongyik and another man sexually assaulting a woman without her consent, resulting in physical injuries to the woman. He was granted bail under strict conditions, including residing at his home in Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, daily reporting to Waverley police station, surrendering his passport, and having only one mobile phone. ^[20]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 11 June 2021

Australia
Year	Apps	Goals
2021	2	0
Total	2	0

References

1. "City signs 19-year-old defender". Melbourne City. 8 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
2. "Ruon Tongyik swaps Reds for Melbourne City". SBS. 8 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
3. Gatt, Ray (9 December 2016). "Sydney FC draw with Melbourne City after going a man down". The Australian . Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
4. Lynch, Michael (3 May 2018). "City release five as rebuild for next season begins". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
5. "Defender parts ways with Western Sydney Wanderers". FTBL . 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
6. "Brisbane Roar sign Charles Lokoli-Ngoy and Ruon Tongyik for rest of the season". Fox Sports . 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
7. Dorman, Matt (29 May 2019). "Signing news: Tongyik seals Central Coast Mariners switch". A-League . Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
8. "Six players depart Mariners ranks". 6 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
9. "Tongyik returns to the Wanderers". 22 July 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
10. "Wanderers loan Tongyik to overseas club". Western Sydney Wanderers . 27 January 2023.
11. "لژیونر استرالیایی مس: باشگاه پاسپورت‌مان را نمی‌دهد/ خاطرات خوبی از ایران داریم" [Australian legionnaire Mes: The club won't give us our passports/ We have good memories of Iran]. Islamic Republic News Agency (in Persian). 31 May 2023.
12. "باشگاه مس کرمان: تونگینک تسویه نکرده است" [Mes Kerman Club: Tongyik has not settled]. Islamic Republic News Agency (in Persian). 1 June 2023.
13. @WESTSYDFAN (9 August 2023). "Central defender Ruon Tongyik has re-joined the Western Sydney Wanderers from his loan at Persian Gulf Pro League side Mes Kerman. Tongyik has been in Wanderers pre-season preparations and has been included in our squad for our R032 Australia Cup clash against Floreat Athena" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
14. "Squad confirmed for Australia Cup Round of 32". Western Sydney Wanderers . 9 August 2023.
15. Barr, Eliza (24 October 2023). "Western Sydney Wanderers player, Ruon Tongyik suspended from A-League after sexual assault charge". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
16. "South Sudan name 12 Australia-based players". BBC Sport. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
17. Curulli, Chris (26 May 2021). "'They thought I made a mistake': Ruon Tongyik's heartwarming reaction to first Socceroos call-up". Football Australia . Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
18. "Graham Arnold lauds impact of inexperienced Socceroos". Football Federation Australia. 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
19. Windley, Matt. "Melbourne City defender Ruon Tongyik making great strides". NT News. News Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
20. Barr, Eliza (20 October 2023). "A-League's Ruon Tongyik charged with aggravated sexual assault". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.

External links

• Ruon Tongyik at Soccerway