Tonga is hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
A squad of New Zealand based players has been training under head coach Tevita Tu ifua for the past three years, which formed the core of teams that have competed in the men s Oceania Sevens Championship, World Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Tonga Rugby Union CEO Peter Harding said the New Zealand based programme has kept men s sevens alive for Tonga but with Covid-19 still prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere, they have decided to only select players who are already currently playing professionally in Europe.
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Ardie Savea Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The long-awaited inclusion of the Pacific Islands in southern hemisphere franchise rugby is nearly upon us.
Moana Pasifika, representative of Samoa and Tonga, and the Fijian Drua will be included in a new professional competition featuring all 10 of the New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby clubs in 2022, and fanfare surrounding their addition is building.
Being granted conditional licences to play in next year’s tournament means both teams can begin the process of recruiting a playing and coaching staff to become competitive forces against New Zealand’s and Australia’s top sides.
Much has been made about who will make up the playing roster at each franchise, with reports emerging that the Fijian Drua already have Olympic sevens hopefuls, Fijian internationals and foreign stars with Fijian heritage lining up to play for the Suva-based team.
This year s Oceania Rugby Under 20 Trophy has been cancelled because of the ongoing effects of Covid-19.
The Samoa and Tonga Under 20 teams were scheduled to contest the title on 22 May but, following consultation with Lakapi Samoa and Tonga Rugby Union, Oceania Rugby said the game will not go ahead.
Samoa proved too strong for Tonga during the 2020 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Trophy.
Photo: Supplied/LUMAprod
Competitions Manger, Wayne Schuster, said the ongoing travel restrictions, advice from health authorities and the continued challenge in hosting tournaments in the Covid-19 landscape were the main factors in their decision. Unfortunately rescheduling or postponing this year s event would also not be realistic under the current circumstances.
Toutai Kefu prior to the All Blacks vs Ikale Tahi test in Hamilton in 2019.
Photo: AFP
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.
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. I thought myself and my staff did a really good job considering the obstacles that we faced along the way, and I think they looked at it from a perspective if I could have proper assistance and guidance, in terms of a governance and administration point of view, they thought that we could go better.