Girls rugby

There was outrage in the Pacific nation this week after a girls' high school rugby team was withdrawn from a competition because of their gender.

An official letter said that sports such as rugby and boxing went against Tongan women's dignity and culture.

Prime Minister Akilisi Pōhiva responded by saying that the letter did not represent official government policy.

He said that the government "actively encourages the participation of every Tongan student in all sports without discrimination".

The move comes just days after a letter sent from the Ministry of Education to Tonga High School directed that girls should not be participating in rugby or boxing.

According to the letter, participation in those sports goes against young women's dignity and Tongan cultural traditions.

The Director of the Talitha Project said the NGO aims to provide opportunities to empower girls to become new and emerging leaders.

Vanessa Heleta said the four year project to encourage gender equality through sport is also supported by UN Women.