Ikale Tahi

TRU said “The team will return to its traditional home colour of red and white, and will feature the kupesi tokelaufeletoa within the fabric. For centuries, Tonga's ngatu motif designs and its art of tapa-making have illustrated, carried and upheld their way of life. A tribute to Tonga's 'angafakatonga' (the Tongan way).”

This kit will be worn by the 'Ikale Tahi team for the first time in the matches this September.

Tonga will be playing Ireland in their first game of the rugby world cup on September 17 before they take on South Africa on October 2.

The Tonga Rugby Union said the matches will be building up the side towards the 2023 qualification matches for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The two test matches will be the first matches that Tonga has hosted on home soil since 2017.

These also serve as Tonga’s final warm-up matches for France.

Prior to the two matches, Tonga will be playing against Australia A on July 14 at the Teufaiva Stadium.

The two home test matches against Canada will also be held at the same venue on 10th and 15th August.

The team had defeated the Wallabies in Brisbane 16-11.

To commemorate the anniversary, Tonga will be playing against Australia A on July at the Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa.

The rugby union has also organized a gala dinner that will be held on the evening after the game.

TRU also acknowledged Rugby Australia, World Rugby, Pacific AusSports, the Government of Tonga and the Australian High Commission in making this game happen.

The ‘Ikale Tahi’s place in Pool B at next year’s tournament was confirmed last Saturday when they defeated Hong Kong 44-22 in the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off at the Sunshine Stadium in Queensland, Australia.

With Ireland, the number one team in the World Rugby Men’s rankings powered by Capgemini, first up, in Nantes on 16 September, Tonga couldn’t have asked for a tougher start.

It's a massive boost to the team ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the likes of legendary players such as Israel Folau and Malakai Fekitoa.

With more expected to join at the end of the year, CEO Peter Harding, said it could be a turning point for Tongan rugby, which has long struggled to find top-level players.

The former All Black and Wallaby representatives were named in a team announcement by the Tonga Rugby Union today.

It is a historic moment for Pacific rugby, with eligibility rules now allowing Pacific Islanders players to play for their home countries.

'Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu said the selection will make a huge difference to the quality of Tongan rugby.

A former Manu Samoa international says a change to World Rugby's eligibility rules will be beneficial to Pacific nations such as Tonga.

Manu Samoa's end of season tour was cancelled this week in line with the current health and travel advice from the Samoa Government.

Tonga is scheduled to kick off their Northern tour against Scotland at the end of the month before facing England, the French Barbarians and Romania in November.

Tonga Rugby Union CEO Peter Harding hopes to confirm a playing squad by the end of the week and are in the process of finalising their tour details.

"Samoa's made a very difficult decision," he said.

It was only three weeks ago that 'Ikale Tahi lock Semisi Paea and Cook Islands centre Junior Raia were lining up alongside each other for Ngongotaha in the Bay of Plenty club competition.

Today both players will make their test match debut, but in different colours.

The 22 year old Paea was first called into the Tongan squad in the lead-up to their test against the All Blacks earlier this month and was surprised head coach Toutai Kefu even knew who he was.

The team was edged 31-24 by Tasman two weeks ago, in their first competitive match in three years, and outclassed 73-0 by the New Zealand Under-20s side on Saturday.

Meanwhile, an understrength 'Ikale Tahi suffered back-to-back defeats against Manu Samoa in their World Cup qualifier.

Cook Islands coach Nathan Robinson is a former Cook Islands international himself and said the squad has come a long way in the last few weeks.

"The cohesion has been really really good from day one," he said.