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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.
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.
Rodger Siaosi Toutai Kefu is a Tongan-Australian professional rugby union coach and former player who has been coaching the Tonga national team since 2016.
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.
Pierre Hola is an Australian-born former rugby union footballer. He represented Tonga and played club rugby in the Australian Shute Shield for Eastwood.
Soane Tongaʻuiha is a Tongan-born, New Zealand-educated, rugby union player and coach. His longest stint was spent with the Northampton Saints, with whom he formed a formidable reputation and rose to prominence, becoming a fan favourite. He has played internationally for Tonga. His position of choice is loose-head prop, although he sometimes plays at tight-head. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.
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.
K. Manakaetau F. 'Otai is coach of the Tonga national team. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland and played club rugby in Auckland. His playing position was as flanker. Otai represented Tonga, being capped for the first time on 11 February 1995 against Japan at Nagoya. Otai was the Tongan team captain in the 1995 Rugby World Cup competition, in which he scored a try. Otai was an All Black trialist in 1994.
Fe'ao Moe Lotu Vunipola is a Tongan former international rugby union player who participated at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1999 Rugby World Cup. He is the father of Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola, and is married to Rev. Iesinga Vunipola, Methodist minister and chaplain to the UK Tongan community. He moved to Wales in 1998 to sign with Pontypool, and in 1999 joined up with Pontypridd. He left to join neighbours Caerphilly in 2001.
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.
Elisi Busco Vunipola is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as fly-half.
Falamani Mafi is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as lock
Talanoa Fuka Kitekei'aho is a former Tongan rugby union footballer who played as centre. He was also the Tonga Rugby Union interim CEO.
Feleti Mahoni is a Tongan former rugby union player who played as flanker.
Penina Fololisi Masila is a Tongan former rugby union player who played as hooker.
Falanisi Manukia, known also as Francis Manukia, is a Tongan former rugby union player who played as fly-half.
Taipe Vave 'Isitolo is a Tongan former rugby union player who played as fullback.
Unuoi Va`enuku is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as centre.
References
- ↑ "Rugby World Cup 1995" (PDF). El Monte Rugby. 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ↑ "Higher Honours". Sunnybank Rugby Club. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Tricolores wary of Tonga test". The Independent.
- ↑ "More records for Hastings". The Independent.
- ↑ "Tonga rattle French until sending-off". The Independent.
- ↑ "Preview: Tonga v Georgia (09-06-18)". RugbyRedefined. 8 June 2018.
- ↑ "NRC Player Profile". 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
- ↑ "Saili Fe'ao". ESPN scrum.