Tonga rugby

The 24-year-old was named North Queensland's player of the year at the weekend, an honour that capped off a difficult week after he controversially turned his back on the Kiwis to play for Tonga at the looming tournament.

Taumalolo has had a hectic season but is adamant he still has the energy for test rugby league at the highest level and will do everything he can to help Tonga.

"I go into camp next week and I'm looking forward to another chapter in my international career. It should be an exciting World Cup," Taumalolo told the Townsville Bulletin.

This tournament is not only for men but the introduction of women teams from across Tongatapu.

As the president for the Tonga Kingdom Seven Mrs Vanessa Heleta said that this tournament is not just racing for the first prize but for a way to support & nurtured local talents here in Tonga.

More than 20 teams have registered and ready to compete today, 6^th October with several cash prizes to be won which proudly sponsored by Digicel Tonga and the UNWomen.

Twenty teams will compete across the men's and women's senior competitions, as well as the women's under 19 divisions in Nuku'alofa.

Secretary of the organising committee, Iliesa Tora, said the event has been in the works for a number of years and was first mooted in 2013 by the late former Fiji and Tonga head coach Eddie Waqa.

"It's something that we hope to grow and the plan next year, already in the pipeline, is for next year to have three tournaments," he said.

In the only change to the backline, the Chiefs utility replaces D'Angelo Leuila at fullback after missing last week's 19-17 defeat by Wales in Apia through injury.

Head coach Namulauulu Alama Ieremia has also had to make some enforced changes in the front row, with Piacenza prop Nephi Leatigaga earning his first test start in place of the injured Viliamu Afatia, while veteran Census Johnston remains unavailable.

The 27-year-old will start at fullback, with David Halaifonua moved to the right wing, Nafi Tuitivake shifted to centre and captain Siale Piutau selected at second five, in place of Viliami Tahitu'a.

Super Rugby duo Siegfried Fisi'ihoi and Siua Halanukonuka also get a start in a beefed up front row, replacing Ben Tameifuna and Latu Talakai, for the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup, which doubles as a Rugby World Cup qualifier.

Former Blues flanker Jack Ram has been named on the bench, after missing the 24-6 defeat by Wales two weeks ago through injury.

Work has finally begun on renovations to the ground, which is being refurbished for the 2019 Pacific Games.

The Papua New Guinea government has committed over US$15 million in support of the project.

The 'Ikale Tahi rugby team have not played on home soil since 2009 and a scheduled home test against Wales in June has been moved to New Zealand, with the field deemed unfit for play.

Head coach Toutai Kefu said the playing surface needs to be re-turfed which could take three to four months.

From 2020, there will be a big increase in matches between top and second-tier nations, including a commitment from England and France to play in the Pacific.

Southern Hemisphere teams have committed to hosting tier-two teams in the new July test window, while Six Nations sides have guaranteed to host a minimum of six matches against second-tier teams in November.

Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu said more test matches against tier one nations can only be good for Pacific Island countries.

The hosts have maximum points after beating Tonga A and Junior Japan, and face Samoa A in today's final round-robin clash in Suva.

Tonga and Japan square off in the early match, with both teams needing to win big to draw level with Fiji on ten points.

They also need Samoa A to knock off the defending champions and deny them a bonus point.

Warriors coach Senirusi Seruvakula said they would not be letting up.

"We want to finish the competition on a high note and we're taking this game against Samoa very seriously."

Front row Faletau, 28, has three caps for his country and will join Mark Tainton's side from Yorkshire Carnegie.

Fellow prop Cosgrove, 22, is a former Scotland Under-20 international who is also eligible to play for England, and will arrive from the Pro 12 club.

"The Championship has some excellent players and Sione is in the prime of his career," said Bristol boss Tainton.

The Mate Ma'a will take on Fiji in May's Pacific Test, which has been boosted by the inclusion of England and the Cook Islands.

Woolf was excited by the growth of the international weekend.

"It's great to see that it's expanding and really good to see the Cook Islands involved - they've certainly deserved that for a while I think," he said.

"They were really competitive at the last World Cup and they were really hard for us to beat not that long ago in a World Cup qualifier as well.