Mate Ma'a Tonga's historic world cup campaign has stirred admiration among youth in the Kingdom of Tonga.
Fran Popua 'Afeaki moved back to Tonga five years ago to work and invest back into her homeland.
She says their league team's success on the international stage has encouraged young people to be proud of their nation.
"This team has decided to stuff the money and come back and win a world cup for us," she says.
PRN reports 'Afeaki has a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Pacific Studies and French. She now works as a human resource manager for Tonga's Air Terminal Services.
She says youth in Tonga are being equipped to find life overseas but she'd like to see that change.
"Why can't we equip our kids for our environment and our country?... If we all leave here to go and build their countries, who's staying behind to build ours?"
'Afeaki says the league team is a prime example of going back to your humble roots to help them grow.
Mate Ma'a Tonga have cracked the semifinals for the first time in a World Cup and will take on England on Saturday.