Tonga rugby

Medical and playing facilities are under review there.

Teufaiva Stadium in Nukuʻalofa is being rebuilt for the 2019 Pacific Games and WRU chairman Gareth Davies says the work may not be completed in time for Wales visit.

If the stadium does not meet criteria, Tonga will play Wales in New Zealand.

Samoa are also scheduled to host Wales on Saturday, 24 June.

The 'Ikale Tahi recorded just their fifth victory over a top tier nation as they upset Italy 19-17 in Padua.

The result built on earlier victories against Spain and the United States and marked the first time Tonga had gone undefeated on an end of year tour.

Head coach Toutai Kefu said the final performance had been building all tour.

"We had our best training week that week leading into the Italian test and we weren't too happy as a group with the way that we played in the games against Spain and USA," he said.

 David Halaifonua starts at fullback in place of Telusa Veainu, who was concussed in the 20-17 victory over the USA last weekend.

Captain Siale Piutau has recovered sufficiently from a knee-strain to take his place at centre.

Cooper Vuna is elevated to the reserves and is poised to make his 'Ikale Tahi debut, having previously played two tests for the Wallabies in 2012.

Tonga are attempting to complete an unbeaten trip, having defeated Spain and the USA in the past fortnight, while Italy are fresh from a shock victory against South Africa.

Tongan squad:

RNZ reports nine players have been retained from the squad that was beaten by Fiji and Samoa during the Pacific Nations Cup in June.

Head coach Toutai Kefu said he much bigger pool of players to select from this time around.

"We didn't have access to the players we wanted for that PNC so, bar maybe three or four, it was always going to be if we got access to our best players or close to our best they would play in November," he said.

RNZI reports Tonga will play Fiji in their opener in Suva and the match comes as World Rugby released High Performance Unit and development funding that had been withheld since the start of the year over governance issues.

Fe'ao Vunipola says the Pacific Nations Cup, which doubles as World Cup qualifiers, is an important tournament so the funding is timely.

"It's important that we have a good start. Thank goodness we had the funds released and the boys had a three day camp and hopefully, God blessing, they can perform to their best," he said.

ABC reports a new coach for Ikale Tahi, the 15s squad, is due to be appointed next week and interim chairman, Fe'ao Vunipola, who played 34 times for his country, is poised to take over on a permanent basis.

He says the 10 year funding package agreed with World Rugby is a good foundation for the future, and now the primary objective is to ensure that Tonga secures a place at the next World Cup in Japan.

The Union receives annual funding of almost two million Tongan Pa'anga from World Rugby to run its High Performance Unit and development fund.

But the game's governing body suspended all financial support at the start of January and will arrive in Tonga tomorrow for three days of talks with the interim TRU administration and the Tonga government.

In a similar scenario to what Samoa endured after strike action from the players in 2014, World Rugby is preparing to send a high-powered delegation to Tonga in the first week of April to address significant debt levels, multiple law suits and a lack of independent governance facing the troubled union.

10 players in the starting line-up have previous World Cup experience for the 'Ikale Tahi, with another three on the bench.

However, only five players remain in the run-on side from Tonga's most recent World Cup clash - a famous win over France in Wellington four years ago.

Captain Nili Latu is back after missing the 2011 tournament and will equal the record of most caps for Tonga when he takes the field for the 41st time in the red jersey.

Elvis Taione, Tevita Mailau, Sitiveni Mafi, Sonatane Takulua and Telusa Veaninu will make their World Cup debuts.