Toutai Kefu

Piutau had hoped to feature for the Ikale Tahi ahead of the 2023 World Cup, but will most likely see that dream shot down due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules.

The governing body has stated that Piutau needed to be stood down for three years from the All Blacks, which he has already achieved. However, the back also has to play for the Tongan 7s team at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco later this year.

And Kefu admits that it is unlikely Piutau will be allowed to feature for the Ikale Tahi, given Piutau’s club commitments with Bristol.

The Tonga Rugby Union signed a tripartite agreement with World Rugby and the Tonga government seven months ago, after the global governing body pulled its financial support because of governance and administration issues.

Funding had since resumed, with Kefu reappointed until the end of 2023.

With a new administration in place and a fresh three year mandate, Kefu was "grateful" to be back in charge and believed he could build on his previous four years at the helm.

He was previously in charge between 2016 and 2019, leading Tonga to nine wins from 28 tests, and also had brief stints as a technical advisor and interim head coach.

The Kolomotu'a born Kefu was the "unanimous" choice of the Tonga Rugby Union's Joint Management Committee, from a pool of 35 applicants.

New CEO Peter Harding - himself a recent appointment - said it was pleasing to see a number of ex Tonga internationals who are coaching abroad also put their names forward for the 'Ikale Tahi job.

Kefu has been involved with the ‘Ikale Tahi team since 2011 and was appointed head coach in 2016.

"Representing Tonga for my brother when he played was an opportunity to represent the family and that meant a lot to him - not only him but to myself as well. To represent 'Ikale Tahi as a coach is an opportunity to represent the family."

The former Wallabies number eight was born in Kolomotu'a in 1974 before moving with the family to Australia the following year.  

The Dragons is one of the five teams confirmed for the next month’s World Tens series, which is a new version of ten-a-side rugby that has plans to expand.

The other teams are  Ohio Aviators (Columbus), SX10 (Cape Town) London Royals and Miami Sun, with the latter three brands created purely for this concept. 

On the pitch, players who will be involved include 7s stars Osea Kolinisau, Collins Injera, Cecil Afrika, Tom Mitchell and Willy Ambaka and XV players Nafi Tuitavake and Bryce Campbell who have both recently appeared in England’s Gallagher Premiership. 

The Pacific Islanders have lost to England, Argentina and France at Rugby World Cup 2019 and need to beat the United States in Hanazono on Sunday to avoid finishing bottom of Pool C.

Coach Kefu, pictured above, a World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, had stated that a pass mark would be coming third and, with it, guaranteeing a place at RWC 2023 in France, but Alatini, one of his assistants in Japan, has still been mightily impressed.

The team was welcomed in a traditional Japanese manner in Kochi on Monday night.

Tonga will be facing England in their first match of the World Cup.

The team is under the guidance of Toutai Kefu, who was born in Tonga but made 60 caps for Australia during his playing career. He took charge of the Tongan national team shortly following the 2015 World Cup. Their most recent result was a crushing 92-7 defeat to New Zealand.

Christchurch-based hooker Siua Maile has been selected at the expense of veteran Elvis Taione, despite no previous involvement with the national team.

The former flanker was named in the Canterbury wider training group earlier this year and Kefu admitted his selection was more about the future than the upcoming tournament in Japan.

Tonga play Fiji as part of the Pasifika Challenge with the New Zealand Heartland XV meeting Samoa in the early game.

The Kingdom have only won 27 of their previous 91 match-ups against the Flying Fijians but prevailed when the teams last met in Lautoka 14 months ago.

Toutai Kefu said he is fine-tuning his squad heading into the World Cup but are not looking too far ahead.

"We have a squad of 33 at the moment so we need to drop two players out of the squad, one forward and one back but in terms of this game we want to win.

The 'Ikale Tahi could only manage one win over Canada in the last of their three games at the recent Pacific Nations Cup but have three more warm up matches before the world showcase.

Kefu said after a month of training and touring together his players were in good shape.

"We've made some big shifts in terms of weight loss and body fat loss. We also made some huge shifts in terms of intensive running," Kefu said.

"It was important that we get a win considering the last four weeks of training have been pretty tough on the boys."