Teufaiva Stadium

Teufaiva was badly damaged in February's Cyclone Gita, less than a year after the ground was reopened following a $US1.5 million dollar upgrade.

Prior to that, the stadium was out of commission for international events, with no test rugby played at the ground for eight years.

The CEO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tonga, 'Onetoto 'Anisi, said work to upgrade the field has now been completed, thanks to assistance from the New Zealand government, and the focus has moved to widening the running track to meet IAAF standards.

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English joined Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva in Nuku'alofa for the re-opening.

RNZI reports around $US1.4 million has been committed by New Zealand to have the stadium upgraded to international standards.

Next Saturday on July 1 the 'Ikale Tahi will play their first test on home soil in more than eight years, taking on Manu Samoa.

Tonga Rugby's Fe'ao Vunipola said he was expecting a full house.

RNZ reports PNG agreed to help after a party led by Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva visited Port Moresby in January.

PNG Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko then led a delegation to Nuku'alofa in February to assess the local facilities.

But CEO of the Games Organising Committee, Lord Sevele, said eight months on work is yet to begin and uncertainty remains.

"From what we have been told by Government officials they have not confirmed the funding, the amount, nor the timing of it," he said.

PNG will also assist Tonga with its High Performance Center where elite sportsmanship will be prepared to represent Tonga in the Pacific Games and other international sporting events.

Prime Minister Pohiva was in Port Moresby earlier this week for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. He was accompanied by the Minister and CEO for Internal Affairs also responsible for Sports.

The main purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit to PNG was to further strengthen the economic and social cooperation between the two countries in the sports arena. 

The final of the Lavengamalie Rugby Cup Tournament 2015-2016 at Teufaiva on Saturday, 9 January, was the last major sports event to be held at the stadium. Until it is renovated, Tonga will be without a national stadium.

Takitoa Taumoepeau, the Secretary General of Tonga’s Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) and a member of the 2019 Pacific Games Organizing Committee, told Matangi Tonga on 13 January that a New Zealand based company, Creative Spaces had been approved as the project management for the upgrading of the Teufaiva Stadium.