Tonga rugby

World Rugby made the announcement last week.

The men’s tournament will involve Brazil, Chile, China, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Samoa, Tonga, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

There is also a women’s competition, which Tonga is not part of, but will feature Argentina, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Samoa and Tunisia.

Tonga’s Men’s Sevens team qualified for the repechage after they placed 5th at the Oceania Sevens last November in Fiji.

The full-time role comes after the TRU signed a tripartite agreement with World Rugby and the Tonga government in September, after the global governing body had threatened to pull all financial support.

The new joint management committee are taking charge until long-standing governance issues are resolved.

The General Manager of High Performance at World Rugby, Peter Horne, said he's confident TRU are on it's way to a successful future.

Dan Leo- who is the founder of the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, traveled to the UK to interview Pacific islands rugby players and the former greats in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

The film was released on Monday, titled ‘Oceans Apart: Greed, Betrayal and Pacific Island Rugby’.

The film highlights the struggles Pacific islands teams face together with the players.

Celebrity chef, Phil Vickery also reacted to the film and shared the preview on his Twitter account saying “For everyone who loves our game this is truly emotional please watch and share.”

The match was meant to take place in Apia in April but was postponed due to Covid-19.

A final date and venue is yet to be confirmed but RNZ Pacific understands the qualifying match will be held on November 14th at the 2021 World Cup venue Waitakere Stadium.

Tonga assistant coach, Sione Pulu, said their squad is excited to get back on the field again after a dramatic campaign which involved a measles outbreak, visa entry complications and a global pandemic. (links)

"I think we're still lucky it's going ahead," he said.

World Rugby had cut its funding to the union in May pending a review into governance and administrative concerns which included "outstanding domestic legal matters" and the lack of properly audited financial settlements.

A new committee will oversee a roadmap for the operating structure of the union until the end of 2024.

"The Tonga Rugby Union's challenges are well documented and we have been working with all parties to identify and agree a roadmap to return Tonga to where it deserves to be, on and off the field," World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said in a statement.

The kingdom will be celebrating the progress of women and girls in rugby.

Tonga Women's Rugby Union Vice Chair, Fehoko Tu'ivai said they are happy that women in rugby are being acknowledged and highlighted this month.

She commended Oceania Rugby for its initiative, which Tonga supports as a union member.

The initiave provides a platform for new talent to join rugby.

TWRU Board members include President Fanetupouvavau Tu'ivakano, Vice-President Vanessa Heleta, Chairlady 'Aisiena Taumoepeau, Vice Chair Fehoko Tu'ivai and Secretary Savelina Pale.

Ma’ama Molitka hung up his boots last week after seven seasons of service for Bedfordshire club Ampthill, helping the English side up the ranks to reach the second-tier RFU Championship in 2019.

The loose forward had previously played 18 tests for Tonga over the course of 11 years, rounding out his international career at the 2007 World Cup in France when he came off the bench against England in a 36-20 defeat in Paris.

'Ikale Tahi first five Kurt Morath had barely arrived in Austin, Texas before it was announced the 2020 Major League Rugby season was no more.

The 38 test veteran made his international debut for Tonga in 2009.

Morath made his debut for the Austin Gilgronis on 7 March, after visa problems delayed his arrival, converting Tiaan Erasmus' first half try as the visitors edged the Houston SabreCats 24-20 to seal their first win of the season and snap a 22-match losing run dating back to June 2018.

Tonga A has been working hard this week in a bid to match the Cherry Blossoms at the ANZ Stadium.

Tongan fullback Kava Tagifua says they have been working on ways to counter their opponents.

“What we are expecting from Japan, we know that they play quite fast, they deliver the ball out wide so the boys are doing everything to get their all covered.”

Tonga will take on Japan at 2.30pm (FJ Time) tomorrow.

Tonga withdrew from the Oceania Championship three months ago after the team was quarantined for measles but were thrown a lifeline after World Rugby agreed to a revised qualification process.

Fiji has already secured their spot after beating Samoa 41-13 in the Oceania qualifying final, with the winner of this weekend's match in Port Moresby to playoff against the Manusina in April for a place in the final World Cup repechage tournament.