Tonga national rugby union team

Tonga

Nickname(s)	ʻIkale Tahi
Emblem	White dove
Union	Tonga Rugby Football Union
Head coach	Toutai Kefu
Captain	Siale Piutau
Most caps	Nili Latu (43)
Top scorer	Kurt Morath (338)
Top try scorer	Fetu'u Vainikolo (15)
Home stadium	Teufaiva Sport Stadium
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	13 (as of 21 May 2018)
Highest	9 (2011)
Lowest	20 (2006)
First international
Tonga 9–6 Fiji (Nuku'alofa, Tonga; 25 August 1924)
Biggest win
Tonga 119–0 South Korea (Nuku'alofa, Tonga; 22 March 2003)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 102–0 Tonga (Albany, New Zealand; 16 June 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	7 (First in 1987)
Best result	Pool stage, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
Medal record International medals Pacific Games 1979 Suva 1963 Suva 1983 Apia
Website	www.tongarugbyunion.net

The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first ever presence at the quarter-finals.

History

Rugby was brought to the region in the early 20th Century by sailors and missionaries and the Tonga Rugby Football Union was formed in late 1923. Tonga beat Fiji 9–6 in their first test in 1924 played in the capital Nukuʻalofa. 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 traveled 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 Côte d'Ivoire in 1995 and Italy in 1999. The win over the Côte d'Ivoire brought tragedy when Ivorian winger Max Brito was left paralyzed.

June 1999 brought their greatest home victory, a 20–16 defeat of France in Nukuʻalofa over a touring France but in 2000 they were humiliated 102–0 (including 15 tries) by New Zealand.

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.

On 24 November 2012, Tonga beat Scotland, at Pittodrie Stadium, 21–15 for their first victory over a traditional rugby power on a European pitch.

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 Kailao. 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.^[1]

Wins against Tier 1 nations

30 June 1973	Australia	11–16	Tonga	Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
	Try: Cole Tindall Con: McGill	Report	Try: Kavapalu Latu Mafi Pahulu Vave	Attendance: 9,563 Referee: Bob Burnett (Australia)

16 June 1999	Tonga	20–16	France	Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nukuʻalofa
	Try: Taufahema Taumalolo (2) Con: Sateki Tuipulotu Pen: Sateki Tuipulotu	Report	Try: Sarraméa Con: Lamaison Pen: Lamaison (3)	Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

10 October 1999	Italy	25–28	Tonga	Welford Road, Leicester
	Try: Moscardi Con: Domínguez Pen: Domínguez (6)	Report	Try: Fatani Taufahema Sateki Tuipulotu Con: Sateki Tuipulotu (2) Pen: Sateki Tuipulotu (2) Drop: Sateki Tuipulotu	Attendance: 10,244 Referee: Dave McHugh (Ireland)

1 October 2011	France	14–19	Tonga	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
	Try: Clerc 80' m Pen: Yachvili (3/3) 1', 23', 49'	Report	Try: Hufanga 26' c Con: Morath (1/1) 28' Pen: Morath (4/8) 6', 35', 66', 72'	Attendance: 32,763 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

24 November 2012	Scotland	15–21	Tonga	Pittodrie, Aberdeen
	Pen: Laidlaw (5/7) 10', 38', 46', 55', 61'	Report	Try: Lokotui 51' c Vainikolo 65' m Con: Apikotoa (1/2) 52' Pen: Apikotoa (3/5) 5', 64', 72'	Attendance: 20,306 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

26 November 2016	Italy	17–19	Tonga	Stadio Euganeo, Padua
15:00 CET (UTC+1)	Try: Cittadini 12' c Allan 54' c Con: Canna (1/1) 13' Allan (1/1) 55' Pen: Padovani (1/1) 77'	Report	Try: Piutau 51' c Con: Takulua (1/1) 53' Pen: Takulua (4/5) 32', 45', 77', 80'	Attendance: 18,125 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Overall Record

Men's World Rugby Rankings
Top 30 rankings as of 8 October 2018[2]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		New Zealand	092.96
2		Ireland	090.12
3		Wales	085.94
4		England	085.68
5		South Africa	083.52
6		Scotland	083.02
7		Australia	082.86
8		France	079.10
9		Argentina	078.01
10		Fiji	076.54
11		Japan	075.24
12		Tonga	073.84
13		Georgia	073.13
14		Italy	072.56
15		United States	071.66
16		Samoa	068.28
17		Romania	068.25
18		Uruguay	065.37
19		Russia	064.89
20		Spain	063.09
21		Hong Kong	060.46
22		Namibia	059.97
23		Canada	059.93
24		Portugal	058.30
25		Belgium	058.09
26		Brazil	056.81
27		Netherlands	056.52
28		Kenya	055.71
29		Germany	055.59
30		Chile	054.36
*Change from the previous week
Tonga's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 2 July 2018[2]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 16 June 2018.^[3]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	1	0	1	0	0%	16	45	−29
Australia	4	1	3	0	25%	42	167	−125
Australia A	1	0	1	0	0.00%	15	60	−45
Canada	8	3	5	0	37.50%	155	193	−38
Chile	1	1	0	0	100.00%	32	30	+2
Cook Islands	3	3	0	0	100.00%	235	22	+213
England	2	0	2	0	0.00%	30	137	−107
England XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	17	37	−20
Fiji	91	27	61	3	29.67%	1218	1780	−562
France	5	2	3	0	40.00%	75	149	−74
Georgia	6	2	4	0	33.33%	132	99	+33
Ireland	2	0	2	0	0.00%	28	72	−44
Italy	5	2	3	0	40.00%	82	154	−72
Ivory Coast	1	1	0	0	100.00%	29	11	+18
Japan	17	9	8	0	52.94%	446	418	+28
Junior All Blacks	2	0	2	0	0.00%	23	77	−54
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100%	55	35	+20
New Zealand	5	0	5	0	0.00%	35	326	−291
Māori	12	4	8	0	33.33%	165	319	−154
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	100.00%	131	26	+105
Portugal	1	1	0	0	100.00%	24	19	+5
Romania	3	2	1	0	66.67%	64	55	+9
Samoa	64	27	33	4	42.19%	956	1119	−163
Scotland	4	1	3	0	25.00%	58	136	−78
Scotland XV	2	0	2	0	0.00%	13	67	−55
South Korea	6	6	0	0	100.00%	464	66	+398
South Africa	2	0	2	0	0.00%	35	104	−69
Spain	1	1	0	0	100.00%	28	13	+15
United States	9	8	1	0	88.89%	241	134	+107
Wales	8	0	8	0	0.00%	84	227	−143
Wales XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	7	26	−19
Zimbabwe	1	1	0	0	100.00%	42	13	+29
Total	273	106	160	7	38.83%	4977	6136	-1159

World Cup Record

World Cup record									World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A		P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Pool Stage	3	0	0	3	29	98		Automatically qualified
1991	Did not qualify								3	1	0	2	64	62
1995	Pool Stage	3	1	0	2	44	90		2	1	0	1	34	26
1999	Pool Stage	3	1	0	2	47	171		7	2	0	5	317	241
2003	Pool Stage	4	0	0	4	46	178		8	4	0	4	398	178
2007	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	89	96		7	3	0	4	329	136
2011	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	80	98		Automatically qualified
2015	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	70	130
2019	Qualified								4	1	0	3	68	93
Total	7/8	25	7	0	18	405	861		31	12	0	19	1210	736

Current squad

On 21 May, Toutai Kefu named a 30-man squad for the 2018 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup and their June test match against Fiji.^[4]

• Head Coach: Toutai Kefu
• Caps Updated: 23 June 2018

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province Sione Lea Hooker (1987-01-12) 12 January 1987 5 Clifton Paul Ngauamo Hooker (1990-02-19) 19 February 1990 15 Agen Sosefo Sakalia Hooker (1991-12-14) 14 December 1991 5 Steaua București Paea Faʻanunu Prop (1988-11-04) 4 November 1988 7 Dax David Feao Prop (1990-10-06) 6 October 1990 3 Narbonne Vunipola Fifita Prop (1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 0 Souths Siegfried Fisiihoi Prop (1987-06-08) 8 June 1987 5 Stade Français Siua Halanukonuka Prop (1986-08-09) 9 August 1986 8 Glasgow Warriors David Lolohea Prop (1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 1 West Harbour Ben Tameifuna Prop (1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 6 Racing 92 Daniel Faleafa Lock (1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 17 Colomiers Leva Fifita Lock (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 8 Grenoble Steve Mafi Lock (1989-12-09) 9 December 1989 27 Castres Joe Tuineau Lock (1981-08-18) 18 August 1981 30 Dax Michael Faleafa Flanker (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 5 Perpignan Fotu Lokotui Flanker (1992-03-19) 19 March 1992 5 Patumahoe Maama Vaipulu Flanker (1989-07-21) 21 July 1989 4 Castres Nasi Manu Number 8 (1988-08-15) 15 August 1988 3 Benetton Valentino Mapapalangi Number 8 (1993-07-18) 18 July 1993 8 Leicester Tigers Sonatane Takulua Half-back (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 28 Newcastle Falcons Shinnosuke Tu'umoto'oa Half-back (1994-06-11) 11 June 1994 3 NEC Green Rockets Kurt Morath First five-eighth (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 33 Utah Warriors George Taina First five-eighth (1995-10-21) 21 October 1995 2 Pakuranga United Latiume Fosita Centre (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 27 Papatoetoe Siale Piutau (c) Centre (1985-10-13) 13 October 1985 34 Bristol Nafi Tuitavake Centre (1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 11 Northampton Saints Sione Fifita Wing (1990-04-17) 17 April 1990 1 Parramatta Penikolo Latu Wing (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 5 University of Waikato Viliami Lolohea Wing (1993-07-04) 4 July 1993 3 Papatoetoe Cooper Vuna Wing (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 8 Worcester Warriors David Halaifonua Fullback (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 28 Gloucester

Individual all-time records

Most points in a match

#	Player	Pos	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Pierre Hola	Centre	44	2	17	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
2.	Fangatapu Apikotoa	Fly-half	30	2	10	0	0	South Korea	Henderson	10/02/2007
3.	Sateki Tu'ipulotu	Fullback	27	1	8	2	0	South Korea	Seoul	04/05/1999
4.	Pierre Hola	Fullback	24	0	9	1	1	Papua New Guinea	Nuku'alofa	07/12/2002
5.	Gustavo Tonga	Fullback	23	1	9	0	0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa	05/07/1997
6.	Benhur Kivalu	Fly-half	20	4	0	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
	Viliame Iongi	Centre	20	4	0	0	0	United States	Esher	08/06/2011
	Kurt Morath	Fly-half	20	0	4	4	0	Fiji	Lautoka	02/07/2011
9.	3 players on 19 points

Last updated: Tonga vs New Zealand, 9 October 2015. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

#	Player	Pos	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	20	4	0	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
	Viliame Iongi	Wing	20	4	0	0	0	United States	Esher	08/06/2011
3.	Josh Taumalolo	Fly-half	15	3	0	0	0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa	05/07/1997
	Josh Taumalolo	Fullback	17	3	1	0	0	Georgia	Tbilisi	28/03/1999
	Jonathan Koloi	Flanker	15	3	0	0	0	South Korea	Seoul	04/05/1999
	Viliami Hakalo	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Cook Islands	Raratonga	24/06/2006
7.	46 players on 2 tries

Last updated: Tonga vs New Zealand, 9 October 2015. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Youngest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	17 years and 292 days	Fiji	Nukualofa	24/03/1990
2.	Viliami Hakalo	(Wing)	18 years and 182 days	Japan	Fukuoka	04/06/2006
3.	Sione Kalamafoni	(Flanker)	18 years and 268 days	South Korea	Henderson	10/02/2007
4.	Soane Havea	Scrum-half	18 years and 292 days	New Zealand	North Shore City	16/06/2000
5.	Semi Taupeaafe	Wing	18 years and 317 days	Fiji	Suva	11/06/1991
6.	Sinali Latu	Number 8	18 years and 320 days	Fiji	Suva	07/07/1984
7.	Unuoi Va'enuku	Centre	19 years and 51 days	France	Pretoria	26/05/1995
8.	Pita Alatini	Centre	19 years and 119 days	Samoa	Nuku'alofa	08/07/1995
9.	Tevita 'Ahoafi	(Scrum-half)	19 years and 171 days	Australia A	Sydney	25/05/2007
10.	Isi Tapueluelu	Centre	19 years and 176 days	Fiji	Nuku'alofa	24/03/1990

Last updated: Tonga vs New Zealand, 9 October 2015. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Oldest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Aleki Lutui	Hooker	37 years and 95 days	Argentina	Leicester	04/10/2015
2.	Hale T-Pole	(Number 8)	36 years and 152 days	Namibia	Exeter	29/09/2015
3.	Rudi Kapeli	Hooker	35 years and 311 days	Australia	Brisbane	04/07/1993
4.	Tukulua Lokotui	Lock	35 years and 282 days	New Zealand	Newcastle	09/10/2015
5.	Kuli Faletau	Lock	35 years and 185 days	Canada	Nuku'alofa	03/07/1999
6.	Ephraim Taukafa	Hooker	35 years and 80 days	Canada	Whangarei	14/09/2011
7.	Hemani Lavaka	Prop	34 years and 292 days	Canada	Wollongong	29/10/2003
8.	Tonga Lea'aetoa	Prop	34 years and 168 days	Fiji	Lautoka	19/08/2011
9.	Kisi Pulu	Prop	34 years and 144 days	Fiji	Lautoka	23/06/2012
10.	Taufa'ao Filise	Prop	34 years and 118 days	Japan	Whangarei	21/09/2011

Last updated: Tonga vs New Zealand, 9 October 2015. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Kit history

Tonga usually wears a home kit consistent of a red shirt, white shorts and red socks and an away kit with the reversed colours. In the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Tonga wore an all-red home kit. Since 2007, Tongan traditional designs, similar to the ones found on the tapa cloths, were incorporated on the jerseys.

Kit Manufacturers:

• 1970s-1999 Canterbury
• 2000-2002 Carisbrook
• 2003-2005 Sekem
• 2005-2008 KooGa
• 2008 Samurai Sportswear^a
• 2008-2010 Aoniu^b
• 2011-2012 KooGa/BLK
• 2012-2015 Kukri
• 2016- Mizuno

• ^a Tonga wore Samurai Sportswear kits in the matches against Maori All Blacks and Japan in 2008
• ^b Tonga wore kits manufactured by the local brand Aoniu in the 2008 end-of-year international tours.

Coaches

Name	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Draw	%
Fred Wolfgramm[5]	1985
Prince Mailefihi	1986-1987
Fakahau Valu	1995
Polutele Tuʻihalamaka	1999-2000
Vaita Ueleni	2000-2001
Jim Love	2001–2003	19	6	13	0	31.58
Willie Ofahengaue	2004–2005	8	0	8	0	0.00
Adam Leach	2006–2007	7	5	2	0	71.43
Quddus Fielea	2007–2010	16	5	11	0	31.25
Isitolo Maka	2010–2011	14	7	7	0	50.00
Toutai Kefu (caretaker)	2012	3	1	2	0	33.33
Mana Otai	2012–2015	24	11	12	1	47.91
Toutai Kefu	2016–

Notable Former Players

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tonga national rugby union team.

• Tonga national rugby league team
• World Cup
• Pacific Tri-Nations
• Pacific Nations Cup
• 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
• Pacific Islanders rugby union team
• Tonga Rugby Football Union

Notes

Sources

• Tongan rugby history (from the BBC)
• The good and bad of Tonga (from the BBC)

External links

• Official site
• Tongan rugby union news from Planet Rugby
• Tongan Rugby News
• Details on Rugby WC's squads
• World Cup Preview
• Supporters website of The Pacific Islanders Rugby Team