Tongan rugby player Sione Vaiomo’unga

Tonga sought support from Romanian government for sick rugby player

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare said the former Ikale Tahi player was recovering well from the transplant and thanked everyone who had supported him.

Vaiomo’unga had been on dialysis after being diagnosed three years ago.

The Ministry sought assurances from Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor late last year, explaining that dialysis was not available in Tonga.

Tonga’s Minister for Health, Dr. Saia Piukala told the Romanian authorities that returning him to Tonga would be “a death sentence.”