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The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
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.
Earl Va'a is a former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played internationally for Samoa. He has played as a fly-half in union and as a fullback and five-eighth in league.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was played in France between 7 September and 20 October 2007. Each of the 20 competing nations was required to confirm their 30-man squad by 14 August. United States player Thretton Palamo, aged 18 when the teams were named and 8 days past his 19th birthday when he made his only appearance in the competition, was the youngest to ever take part at a World Cup final stage.
Jon Steel, full name Jonathan Steel, also known by the nicknames of "Steely" and "Old Boy", is a former rugby league and rugby union footballer who played professionally from 1996 until 2013. He played in the Super League for Hull Kingston Rovers, and in the Championship for Featherstone Rovers. In rugby union, he represented Scotland at youth level and full international level before switching codes in 2005. He is a treble international having represented Scotland in Rugby Union, Rugby League and Rugby Sevens.
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.
James Gordon Pritchard is an Australian-Canadian professional rugby union and rugby league footballer, who currently plays his club rugby union for Ampthill in National League 1 following short spells with Old Albanian and Coventry. Pritchard is best known for his time with Bedford Blues, where he spent 12 seasons across two spells with the club, and he is the club's record points scorer with 2,883 points in all competitions, including 99 tries. He is also the RFU Championship all-time top points scorer with 2,673 points from 251 league and play-off games while playing for Bedford Blues and Plymouth Albion, as a fullback, wing or centre. Pritchard has played internationally for Canada, with whom he appeared in four Rugby World Cups, and is his countries all-time top points scorer with 607 points.
Tonga Lea'aetoa is a retired New Zealand-Tongan rugby union player who last played for Bayonne in the French Top 14. Lea'aetoa's position of choice was Tighthead prop.
Lopeti Timani is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Tonga national team.
Salesi Tu'ipulotu Piutau, often known as Charles Piutau, is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Shizuoka Blue Revs.
Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Benetton and the Tonga national team.
Finlay Turner Christie is a professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for Super Rugby club Blues. Born in Scotland, he represents New Zealand at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Faletoa Va'apu'u Vitale, also known as Va'a Vitale, is a Samoan rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half.
Benhur Kivalu is a Samoan-born Tongan former rugby union player. He played as a lock and as a number eight.
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.
Samuela H. S. "Semi" Taupeaafe (born in Nuku'alofa, on 29 July 1972）is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as wing and centre.
David Lavulo Edwards is a Tongan former international rugby union player.
Sonatane Charles Jonathan Koloi is a Tongan former international rugby union player.
References
- ↑ "Bridge clash marks 125 years for Riwaka". Stuff.co.nz . 11 June 2009.
- ↑ "Va'a Toloke". New Zealand Rugby History.
- ↑ "Woodward looks to Redgrave's inspiration". The Daily Telegraph . 23 September 1999.
- ↑ "All Blacks ride the bumps". The Daily Telegraph. 4 October 1999.