Tonga national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tonga
ns start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao
(aka the Sipi Tau). They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
(PIRA) along with Fiji
and Samoa
. The Ikale Tahi achieved a monumental 19 - 14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
was formed in late 1923. Tonga beat Fiji
9–6 in their first test in 1924 played in the capital Nukualofa
. However Tonga lost the second test 14–3 and drew the decider 0–0.
Between 1924 and 1938 Tonga and Fiji played three test series every alternate year. Matches between the two Pacific nations were hard fought; many have claimed that the ancient feuding wars between the Islanders were transplanted onto the rugby field. Troubles during the third Test of Fiji’s 1928 tour to Tonga forced the game to be abandoned with Tonga leading 11–8. In 1954 Tonga played host to a touring Western Samoa.
Tonga beat New Zealand Māori
in 1969 but had to wait until 1973 before they played their second test match a 30–12 defeat against Australia in Sydney. They got their revenge when they beat Australia in Ballymore, Brisbane
16–11, scoring four tries to two in June 1973. The following year they travelled to the Arms Park for a non-cap international against Wales
, a game that ended in a 26–7 defeat.
The first Tongan tour to Great Britain was in 1974 when they played 10 games, including those in Wales against East Wales, Llanelli
, North Wales, Newport, West Wales and a Wales XV. The only tour victory was by 18–13 in the opener against East Wales. The 'tests' were lost by 44–8 to a Scotland XV and by 26–7 to the Wales XV.
They remained a little-known quantity in Europe until 1986 when Wales embarked on a tour of Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa. Early in the game against Tonga Welsh flanker Mark Brown was flattened by three Tongan forwards, leading to a mass brawl involving the entire team except Malcolm Dacey and Mark Titley. Robert Jones
describes the event in his book Raising The Dragon as "the worst brawl I have ever seen on a rugby field." At the post-match dinner Jonathan Davies was asked to give a few words in Welsh and as the hosts politely applauded he described them as "the dirtiest team I have ever played against!"
Tonga were drawn to play Wales again in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
in New Zealand. The previous meeting, plus the decision to rest some of the leading players, led to a poor Welsh performance though they managed to win 29–16. Tonga lost its other two games to Ireland (32–9) and Canada (37–4).
They failed to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
. In 1994 they won the South Pacific championship on try count and so qualified for the Super 10
, they finished bottom of their pool with only one point.
They qualified for the 1995 World Cup
ahead of Fiji on points difference. Tonga managed only two victories in the next two World Cups, against the 29–11 Ivory Coast in 1995 and Italy
in 1999. The win over the Ivory Coast brought tragedy when Ivory Coast winger Max Brito was left prone on the turf and has used a wheelchair ever since.
June 1999 brought their greatest home victory, a 20–16 defeat of France
in Nukualofa
over a touring France but in 2000 they were humiliated 102–0 (including 15 tries) by New Zealand
. As seen from this type of results, Tonga is fierce upon home games and manage to face great difficulties on away games.
After losing their first four matches to Fiji and Samoa, Tonga finished third in the Oceania qualifying group. As a result they had to play home and away matches against Papua New Guinea, which they won 47–14 and 84–12, followed by a play-off against South Korea, who finished as runners-up in the Asian section. Tonga thrashed them 75–0 and 119–0.
At the 2003 Rugby World Cup
Tonga lost all their games and finished bottom of their pool. Despite keeping Wales to 20–27, they were again thrashed by New Zealand 91–7.
In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, winning 2 of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, in one of the most memorable and exciting games of the tournament, eventually going down 30–25.
Tonga achieved one of the greatest victories in Rugby World Cup history with their 19 - 14 win over France in the 2011 World Cup. Which was one of the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history.
. Tonga perform the kailao/Sipi Tau prior to the commencement of a match. The kailao was originally a war dance that was imported to Tonga from Wallis Island
. It is usually performed at both public and private ceremonies.
One of the most memorable performances in modern times of the Sipi Tau was during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
in Australia
, in Tonga's match against the All Blacks
. The All Blacks began their traditional haka
, and then Tonga answered to the haka through the sipi tau whilst the All Blacks were performing it, bringing the teams within metres of one another just prior to kick-off.
Tongan squad selectors have surprised their supporters in the past but the exclusion of regular starter and captain since 2009, Kirk Watton-Green III from the world cup 2011 squad has caused a lot of controversy back on the island. Watton-Green III has been left out due to his recent signing for Exeter Chiefs in England according to selectors but there have been rumours that it may be down to the bad boy tag that comes with him.
.
Head Coach:
Isitolo Maka
All Blacks
Wallabies
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
ns start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao
Kailao
The Kailao is a Wallisian war dance imported to Tonga from nearby 'Uvea .-History:It is usually performed at public and private ceremonies. The men, bearing stylized clubs , dance in a fierce manner that emulates fighting, all to the accompaniment of a beaten slit drum or a tin box, which sets the...
(aka the Sipi Tau). They are members 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...
(PIRA) along with Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
and Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
. The Ikale Tahi achieved a monumental 19 - 14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
History
Rugby was brought to the region in the early 20th Century by sailors and missionaries and the Tonga Rugby Football UnionTonga 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...
was formed in late 1923. Tonga beat Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
9–6 in their first test in 1924 played in the capital Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
. However Tonga lost the second test 14–3 and drew the decider 0–0.
Between 1924 and 1938 Tonga and Fiji played three test series every alternate year. Matches between the two Pacific nations were hard fought; many have claimed that the ancient feuding wars between the Islanders were transplanted onto the rugby field. Troubles during the third Test of Fiji’s 1928 tour to Tonga forced the game to be abandoned with Tonga leading 11–8. In 1954 Tonga played host to a touring Western Samoa.
Tonga beat New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
in 1969 but had to wait until 1973 before they played their second test match a 30–12 defeat against Australia in Sydney. They got their revenge when they beat Australia in Ballymore, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
16–11, scoring four tries to two in June 1973. The following year they travelled to the Arms Park for a non-cap international against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, a game that ended in a 26–7 defeat.
The first Tongan tour to Great Britain was in 1974 when they played 10 games, including those in Wales against East Wales, Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
, North Wales, Newport, West Wales and a Wales XV. The only tour victory was by 18–13 in the opener against East Wales. The 'tests' were lost by 44–8 to a Scotland XV and by 26–7 to the Wales XV.
They remained a little-known quantity in Europe until 1986 when Wales embarked on a tour of Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa. Early in the game against Tonga Welsh flanker Mark Brown was flattened by three Tongan forwards, leading to a mass brawl involving the entire team except Malcolm Dacey and Mark Titley. Robert Jones
Robert Jones
Robert Jones or Rob Jones or Bob Jones or Bobby Jones may refer to:-Politics:*Robert Jones , British Conservative politician, MP 1983–1997...
describes the event in his book Raising The Dragon as "the worst brawl I have ever seen on a rugby field." At the post-match dinner Jonathan Davies was asked to give a few words in Welsh and as the hosts politely applauded he described them as "the dirtiest team I have ever played against!"
Tonga were drawn to play Wales again in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
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...
in New Zealand. The previous meeting, plus the decision to rest some of the leading players, led to a poor Welsh performance though they managed to win 29–16. Tonga lost its other two games to Ireland (32–9) and Canada (37–4).
They failed to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
. In 1994 they won the South Pacific championship on try count and so qualified for the Super 10
Super 10 (Southern Hemisphere competition)
The Super 10 was a rugby union tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa, which ran for three years from 1993 to 1995...
, they finished bottom of their pool with only one point.
They qualified for the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
ahead of Fiji on points difference. Tonga managed only two victories in the next two World Cups, against the 29–11 Ivory Coast in 1995 and Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in 1999. The win over the Ivory Coast brought tragedy when Ivory Coast winger Max Brito was left prone on the turf and has used a wheelchair ever since.
June 1999 brought their greatest home victory, a 20–16 defeat of France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
over a touring France but in 2000 they were humiliated 102–0 (including 15 tries) by New Zealand
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....
. As seen from this type of results, Tonga is fierce upon home games and manage to face great difficulties on away games.
After losing their first four matches to Fiji and Samoa, Tonga finished third in the Oceania qualifying group. As a result they had to play home and away matches against Papua New Guinea, which they won 47–14 and 84–12, followed by a play-off against South Korea, who finished as runners-up in the Asian section. Tonga thrashed them 75–0 and 119–0.
At the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
Tonga lost all their games and finished bottom of their pool. Despite keeping Wales to 20–27, they were again thrashed by New Zealand 91–7.
In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup
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 2 of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, in one of the most memorable and exciting games of the tournament, eventually going down 30–25.
Tonga achieved one of the greatest victories in Rugby World Cup history with their 19 - 14 win over France in the 2011 World Cup. Which was one of the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history.
Sipi Tau
Like a lot of the big Pacific rugby nations, Tonga has a pre-game war dance (Haka). The Sipi Tau is a form of the KailaoKailao
The Kailao is a Wallisian war dance imported to Tonga from nearby 'Uvea .-History:It is usually performed at public and private ceremonies. The men, bearing stylized clubs , dance in a fierce manner that emulates fighting, all to the accompaniment of a beaten slit drum or a tin box, which sets the...
. Tonga perform the kailao/Sipi Tau prior to the commencement of a match. The kailao was originally a war dance that was imported to Tonga from Wallis Island
Wallis Island
Wallis is an island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna....
. It is usually performed at both public and private ceremonies.
One of the most memorable performances in modern times of the Sipi Tau was during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in Tonga's match against the 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....
. The All Blacks began their traditional haka
Haka of the All Blacks
The Haka is a traditional Maori war dance from New Zealand. There are thousands of Haka that are performed by various tribes and cultural groups throughout New Zealand. The best known Haka of them all is called "Ka Mate". It has been performed by countless New Zealand teams both locally and...
, and then Tonga answered to the haka through the sipi tau whilst the All Blacks were performing it, bringing the teams within metres of one another just prior to kick-off.
Tongan squad selectors have surprised their supporters in the past but the exclusion of regular starter and captain since 2009, Kirk Watton-Green III from the world cup 2011 squad has caused a lot of controversy back on the island. Watton-Green III has been left out due to his recent signing for Exeter Chiefs in England according to selectors but there have been rumours that it may be down to the bad boy tag that comes with him.
Overall Record
Their Test match record against all nations, updated to 09 September 2011, is as follows:| Nation | Games | Won | Lost | Drawn | Percentage of wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25% | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 25% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| 85 | 27 | 55 | 3 | 31.7% | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 64% | |
| 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% | |
| 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | |
| 42 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 40.4% | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| Total | 214 | 89 | 120 | 5 | 44% |
Current squad
Tonga's 30-man RWC squad was announced on 23 August. Chairman Bob Tuckey allegedly resigned over the proposed selection of former captain Nili LatuNili Latu
Nili Latu, playing name of Otenili Langilangi is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the NEC Green Rockets in the Japan Top League. He has also captained the Tonga national rugby side at international level, and has played for the Pacific Islanders on their tour to Great...
.
- Caps and ages relevant to start of World Cup.
Head Coach:
Isitolo MakaIsitolo Maka
Isitolo Maka is a former rugby union footballer for the All Blacks playing as a number 8 and making four appearances, all in 1998. Maka was the coach of the Tonga squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.-External links:*...
Notable former players
- Inoke AfeakiInoke AfeakiInoke Afeaki is a Tongan rugby union footballer. His usual position is at lock.-Career:Afeaki has played for the Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship, the Hurricanes in the international Super 14 competition, Secom and Ricoh in Japan before joining the Scarlets in Wales. He...
- Stanley Afeaki
- Ipolito FenukitauIpolito FenukitauIpolito Fenukitau is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He has played over 10 times for the Tonga national rugby union team, including representing them at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia...
- Benhur Kivalu
- Usaia Latu
- Gus Leger
- Nisifolo Naufahu
- John Payne
- Sateki TuipulotuSateki TuipulotuSateki Tuipulotu is a former rugby union footballer who played internationally for Tonga. Tuipulotu first played for Tonga in 1994 against Wales. Playing at fullback, he was a regular player for Tonga until his retirement following the 2003 Rugby World Cup...
- Maama MolitikaMaama MolitikaMaama Molitika is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He is 6'5" . He has played numerous times for the national Tongan team, making his debut in June 1997 against Fiji. He was also in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team squad that toured Europe in 2006...
- Aisea HaviliAisea HaviliAisea Havili Kaufusi is a Tongan rugby union footballer, who currently played most recently as a winger for the Cornish Pirates in National Division One as well as for the Tonga national team.-Club career:...
- Josh TaumaloloJosh TaumaloloSiua Taumalolo was a rugby union player for Bristol Rugby in the Guinness Premiership.Nicknamed Josh, he spent several years in Welsh rugby, playing for Ebbw Vale RFC before joining Bridgend RFC in 2000...
- Sililo MartensSililo MartensSililo Victor Martens is a Tongan international rugby union player.-Career:Martens was born in Auckland New Zealand to a Tongan mother and Australian father. He spent most of his childhood in the Islands of Tonga where he was moved to Auckland New Zealand to start his education...
- Salesi FinauSalesi FinauSalesi Finau is a Tongan former rugby footballer. He represented Tonga in both the rugby league and rugby union sides.-Rugby league career:...
- Nili LatuNili LatuNili Latu, playing name of Otenili Langilangi is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the NEC Green Rockets in the Japan Top League. He has also captained the Tonga national rugby side at international level, and has played for the Pacific Islanders on their tour to Great...
- Hale T-PoleHale T-PoleTevita Hale Nai Tu'uhoko, often known simply as Hale T-Pole or Hale T Pole, is a Tongan rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker or number eight for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan...
All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
- Jonah LomuJonah LomuJonah 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...
- Pita AlatiniPita AlatiniPita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries....
- Doug HowlettDoug HowlettDouglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil...
- Isitolo MakaIsitolo MakaIsitolo Maka is a former rugby union footballer for the All Blacks playing as a number 8 and making four appearances, all in 1998. Maka was the coach of the Tonga squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.-External links:*...
- Kupu VanisiKupu VanisiOsaiasi Kupu Vanisi is a former rugby union footballer who played at flanker for the Highlaners and Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition...
- Charles RiechelmannCharles RiechelmannCharles Riechelmann was a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union player. He played for Auckland, the Blues and the All Blacks at international level. He played six test matches for New Zealand in 1997, scoring three tries. He was also a part of the Blues 1996 and 1997 Super 12 winning teams.-External...
- Carl HoeftCarl HoeftCarl Hoeft is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He currently plays for French club Stade Toulousain after signing from Castres Olympique in the Summer of 2011. His usual position is at prop. He was a part of the All Blacks squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.-External links:* *...
- Saimone TaumoepeauSaimone TaumoepeauSaimone Taumoepeau is a professional rugby union player in France.-Career:Born in Tonga, Taumoepeau emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 20. Taumoepeau was a shock selection in the 2004 end-of-year All Blacks squad after having only made his debut that season in provincial rugby's Air New...
- Sam TuitupouSam TuitupouSam Tuitupou is a New Zealand international rugby union player who plays for Sale in the Aviva Premiership. His position is Inside Centre....
- Anthony Tuitivake
- Sione LauakiSione LauakiSione Tuitupu Lauaki is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. His brother, Epalahame Lauaki, is a 2nd rower for Hull in the Super League competition and also a New Zealand international.-Early career:...
- Ben AtigaBen AtigaBenjamin Alo Charles Atiga is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and plays centre and fullback. Atiga is a product of Auckland Grammar School. He has currently played only 1 test for the All Blacks, he got called into the 2003 All Blacks World Cup squad as an injury replacement and got his cap...
WallabiesWallabiesA wallaby is the informal name for any of about thirty species of Australian animal.Wallaby may also refer to:* Wallaby ammunition carrier, a variant of the Canadian Ram tank* Wallaby , Japanese fantasy manga...
- Viliami 'Ofahengaue
- Fili Finau
- Daniel Manu
- George Smith
- Toutai KefuToutai KefuToutai Kefu is a rugby player who won 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian rugby union side .-Career:...
- Wycliff PaluWycliff PaluWycliff Palu is an Australian rugby union footballer of Tongan descent. He plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super Rugby competition...
- Steve Kefu
- Lloyd Johannsen
- Mark GerrardMark GerrardMark Gerrard is an Australian professional rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby competition. In 2011 he was one of 10 players nominated to become the competition's Super Rugby player of the year....
- Rodney BlakeRodney BlakeRodney Blake is a professional Australian rugby union footballer. He plays prop for the Melbourne Rebels. He previously played for Bayonne in France. He is sometimes referred to as Rodzilla. His father Paul is a former Otago flanker. In June 2006, Blake made his debut for the Wallabies.- Career...
- Tatafu Polota-NauTatafu Polota-Nau- Biography :At 25 years of age, Polota-Nau achieved the rare feat of Test selection before playing a match at Super 14 level. His performances in his Test debut against England at Twickenham and in the win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road were impressive.v Signed to the New South Wales Waratahs...
- Sekope KepuSekope KepuSekope Kepu is a young Australian prop forward for the NSW Waratahs rugby union club in the Super 14 competition. He made his debut during the 2008 season....
- Salesi Ma'afuSalesi Ma'afuSalesi Ma'afu, is an Australian professional Rugby union footballer. Ma'afu was selected to the Qantas Wallabies squad in 2009 and again in 2011 after having appeared for Australia A in 2007 and 2008...
- Anthony FaingaaAnthony FaingaaAnthony Fainga'a started his professional rugby career alongside his twin brother Saia Fainga'a at the Brumbies in Canberra, after growing up in nearby Queanbeyan.-Career:...
- Saia FaingaaSaia FaingaaSaia Fainga'a is an Australian rugby union player.-Career:Faing'aa was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales. He played at hooker for Australia's most successful Super 14 side – Brumbies — replacing Jeremy Paul who retired in 2007. Since making his debut for the Brumbies in 2004 against the...
- Sitaleki TimaniSitaleki TimaniSitaleki Timani , is a Tongan rugby union player. He currently plays for the NSW Waratahs mainly playing second row.Timani made his Super Rugby debut for Western Force in 2008 against the Sharks.-References:*...
See also
- Tonga national rugby league teamTonga national rugby league teamThe Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
- World Cup
- Pacific Tri-NationsPacific Tri-NationsThe 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...
- Pacific Nations Cup
- 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup2008 IRB Pacific Nations CupThe 2008 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim: Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Māori . The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament started on 7 June and ended on 6 July 2008.The tournament...
- Pacific Islanders rugby union teamPacific Islanders rugby union teamThe 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...
- Tonga Rugby Football UnionTonga Rugby Football UnionThe 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...