The national sport of Tonga is rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

. Association football has a following, while judo

Judo

is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

, surfing

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

, volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

, and cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

 have gained in popularity in recent years. Rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 is also played.

Rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 is the most popular sport in Tonga. Rugby union is governed by the Tonga Rugby Football Union

Tonga Rugby Football Union

The Tonga Rugby Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Tonga. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...

, which is also a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions. Niue and the Cook Islands are also members of the Alliance, and while not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they can and do supply members to the Pacific...

.

Rugby union is popular in the nation's schools and students from schools such as Tupou College

Tupou College

Tupou College is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school in Toloa on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.It is located on the Eastern District of Tongatapu near the village of Malapo. The school is owned by the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga. Established in 1866 by James Egan Moulton, it claims to be...

 are regularly offered scholarships from New Zealand, Australia and Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Though Tongans are passionate rugby followers, the small population base means that internationally, Tongan rugby continually struggles. Often, young talent emigrate to countries which offer greater prospects of individual success such as New Zealand and Australia.

The national team

Tonga national rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...

 (Ikale Tahi) has performed quite well on the international stage. Although the national team has not performed as well as neighboring Samoa

Samoa

Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...

 and Fiji

Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...

, Tonga has competed at five Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....

s, the first being in 1987

1987 Rugby World Cup

The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...

. The team achieved its best-ever performance in 2007

2007 Rugby World Cup

The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...

, winning two matches against the USA and Samoa before losing narrowly to South Africa, the eventual winners of the competition, and England, the runners-up. By finishing third in their group, Tonga gained automatic qualification to the 2011 Rugby World Cup

2011 Rugby World Cup

The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...

, to be held in New Zealand.

Tonga performs the 'Sipi Tau' (war dance) before its matches. Tonga used to compete in the Pacific Tri-Nations

Pacific Tri-Nations

The Pacific Tri-Nations is the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It was established in 1982 with the Samoan team, then known as Western Samoa, winning the tournament...

 against Samoa and Fiji which has now been replaced by the IRB Pacific 6 Nations involving Japan as well as the second string All Blacks

All Blacks

The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....

 (Junior All Blacks) and Wallabies

Australia national rugby union team

The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...

 (Australia A). At club level, there are the Datec Cup Provincial Championship

Datec Cup Provincial Championship

The Datec Cup Provincial Championship is the second highest level of rugby union competition within Tongan rugby and is a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union....

 and the Pacific Rugby Cup

Pacific Rugby Cup

The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup is an annual rugby union development competition. First held in 2006, it features representative teams from the three Pacific rugby union unions - Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.The participating teams are:*Samoa A from Samoa...

.

Tonga contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team

Pacific Islanders rugby union team

The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...

. Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu

Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...

, Viliami (William) 'Ofahengaue

Viliami Ofahengaue

Viliami 'Ofahengaue , widely known as Willie O, earned 41 caps for the Australian rugby union side from 1990 to 1998 and played in the World Cups of 1991 and 1995 as well as the World Cup Sevens in 1993....

 and George Smith

George Smith (rugby player)

George Smith is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for Toulon. He won 110 caps for Australia before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010. He made his Test debut in 2000 against France in Paris and he is the most capped Wallaby forward, and the most capped flanker in...

 are all of Tongan descent.

Rugby league

See also: Rugby league in Tonga

Rugby league in Tonga

Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Tonga.Tonga boasts one of the most vibrant rugby league competitions in the Pacific islands and continues to produce outstanding players...

There are 10 first division sides in the Global Insurance Cup and there are 9 in the second division. Only Kolomu'a Warriors (One of two Nuku'alofa Clubs) and the Vaini Doves have first and second division sides. The First Division sides have been, to a greater extent, regular participants in the competition since the inception of League in 1988. Those sides are Kolomu'a, Vaini, Mu'a Saints, Silapeluua (Ha'ateiho) Crusaders, Lapaha Knights, Ha'akame Broncos, Hihifo Rovers, Havelu Bulldogs, Halaloto Barbarians and Nakolo Raiders. The Second Division consists of a number of clubs that have participated infrequently over a number of years. However, regulars in the Second Division are Fatumu, Ha'ateiho Spartans and Ngalukilo Stormers.

Secondary Schools Competition started in 2007 with 5 teams in the under 18s competition and 8 teams in the Under 16s. Takuilau High School won the Under 18s competition and Liahona High School won the Under 16s competition.

It is the largest number of teams and players participating in rugby league in Tongan history, with the National Schools Committee starting the Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 15s in 2008.

TNRL estimate that there are roughly 1,500 players playing rugby league in Tonga for 2007.

Australian rules football

The sport was first played in 2003, when the Tonga Australian Football Association was founded. A schools competition has been played yearly since then, including a tour to Samoa

Australian rules football in Samoa

Australian rules football in Samoa has been played since 1997.The governing body for the sport was formed under the name Samoa Australian Rules Football Association in 1998, becoming the AFL Samoa in 2007...

. A Tongan team competed at the 2004 Australian Football Multicultural Cup

Australian Football Multicultural Cup

The Australian Football Multicultural Cup was an amateur Australian rules football competition featuring teams drawn from melbourne's migrant communities...

.

The senior men's representative team is known as the Black Marlins and hosted Australian amateur team the Fitzroy Reds in late 2006.

Although the Black Marlins could not raise the money required to send a team to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup

2008 Australian Football International Cup

The 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....

, an Tongan-Australian side did participate in the multicultural division of the competition against multicultural sides from Asia and Africa.

American football

The first Tongan to play in the NFL

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 was running back/kick returner Vai Sikahema

Vai Sikahema

Vai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...

 (1986-1993). Offensive Lineman Spencer Folau

Spencer Folau

Spencer Sione Folau was an American football offensive lineman in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens 1997-2000, Miami Dolphins 2001, New Orleans Saints 2002-2004, and Washington Redskins 2005...

, born in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, was a member of the Super Bowl XXXV

Super Bowl XXXV

Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...

 champion Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

. Tongan Americans currently playing in the NFL include Pro Bowl

Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...

 Nose Tackle Haloti Ngata

Haloti Ngata

-Baltimore Ravens:Ngata decided to leave Oregon a year early because his mother, 'Ofa, was in the early stages of kidney dialysis. She died from her illness on January 13, 2006....

 of the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

, New York Jets

New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 Nose Tackle Sione Pouha

Sione Pouha

Sione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....

, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

 Fullback

Fullback (American football)

A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...

 Naufahu Tahi

Naufahu Tahi

Naufahu Anitoni Tahi is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at BYU...

 and Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

 Tight End

Tight end

The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

 Tony Moeaki

Tony Moeaki

Anthony "Tony" Moeaki is an American football tight end. He finished his senior season at Iowa with 30 catches for 387 yards and 4 touchdowns. Moeaki was considered one of the top tight end prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft....

. Offensive Guard Deuce Lutui, who was born in the Haʻapai division of islands, plays for the Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...

. Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...

 Defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu

Ma'ake Kemoeatu

Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu is Tongan professional American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football for the University of Utah Utes....

 and his brother offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu

Chris Kemoeatu

Uikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005...

, who has won two Super Bowl

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...

s with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

, are natives of Tonga.

Boxing

Boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 Paea Wolfgram

Paea Wolfgram

Paea Wolfgramm is a former Tongan boxer. Nicknamed "The Tongan Warrior", Wolfgramm won the Super Heavyweight silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.-Personal:...

 won the silver medal in the Super Heavyweight division (> 91kg) at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Although he is not the first Pacific Islander to medal at an Olympics. He is the first to do so representing a Pacific Island nation. This makes Tonga the first and only Pacific island nation to date to ever win a medal at the Olympic Games. Because Tonga has only a population of one hundred and ten thousand it statistically makes Tonga the most successful nation in Olympic history.

Luge

Princess Pilolevu Tuita is the patron of the Luge Federation of the Kingdom of Tonga, his only sportsman Bruno Banani failed skimpy in the Qualification to the 2010 Olympic Games, formerly was 41st at 2009–10 Luge World Cup

2009–10 Luge World Cup

The 2009–10 Luge World Cup was a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started 17 November 2009 in Calgary, Canada and ended 31 January 2010 in Cesana, Italy. The World Cup was organised by the FIL and sponsored by Viessmann...

in Calgary.