Tonga national rugby union team

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Not to be confused with Tonga national rugby league team.
Tonga
Logo Tonga Rugby.svg
Union Tonga Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s) ʻIkale Tahi
Emblem(s) The White Dove
Coach(es) Vacant
Captain(s) Nili Latu
Most caps Nili Latu (43)
Top scorer Kurt Morath (338)
Most tries Fetu'u Vainikolo (15)
Team kit
Change kit
First international
 Tonga 9 – 6 Fiji 
(15 August 1924)
Largest win
 Tonga 119 – 0 South Korea 
(22 March 2003)
Largest defeat
 New Zealand 102 – 0 Tonga 
(16 June 2000)
World Cup
Appearances 6 (First in 1987)
Best result First round, third in pool 1995, 2007 & 2011

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. 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.

History

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Main article: Tonga at the Rugby World Cup

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 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 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

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Main article: Kailao

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

Overall Record

Top 30 rankings as of 30 May 2016[2]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  New Zealand 96.10
2 Steady  Australia 89.33
3 Steady  South Africa 87.66
4 Steady  England 84.60
5 Increase 1  Argentina 82.59
6 Decrease 1  Wales 82.49
7 Steady  Ireland 80.33
8 Steady  France 78.36
9 Steady  Scotland 78.32
10 Steady  Japan 77.05
11 Steady  Fiji 76.96
12 Steady  Georgia 72.62
13 Steady  Tonga 71.60
14 Steady  Italy 70.78
15 Steady  Samoa 70.36
16 Steady  Romania 67.52
17 Steady  United States 65.68
18 Steady  Canada 64.27
19 Steady  Russia 63.56
20 Steady  Uruguay 63.23
21 Steady  Namibia 61.75
22 Steady  Spain 60.87
23 Steady  Hong Kong 58.43
24 Steady  Belgium 57.94
25 Steady  Germany 57.71
26 Steady  Ukraine 56.95
27 Steady  Kenya 55.89
28 Steady  Chile 55.89
29 Steady  South Korea 55.45
30 Steady  Portugal 54.29
*Change from the previous week
Tonga's Historical Rankings
Tonga IRB World Rankings.png
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 1 November 2015[2]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 9 October 2015.[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 88 26 59 3 29.55% 1163 1724 −561
 France 5 2 3 0 40.00% 75 149 −74
 Georgia 4 2 2 0 50.00% 97 60 +37
 Ireland 2 0 2 0 0.00% 28 72 −44
 Italy 4 1 3 0 25.00% 63 137 −74
 Ivory Coast 1 1 0 0 100.00% 29 11 +18
 Japan 16 9 7 0 56.25% 440 379 +61
New Zealand 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 2 1 1 0 50.00% 39 35 +4
 Samoa 61 25 32 4 40.98% 888 1045 −157
 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
 United States 8 7 1 0 87.50% 221 117 +104
 Wales 7 0 7 0 0.00% 78 203 −125
 Wales XV 1 0 1 0 0.00% 7 26 −19
 Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 100.00% 42 13 +29
Total 259 99 153 7 38.32% 4715 5837 -1122

World Cup Record

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L F A P W D L F A
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 29 98 Automatically qualified
United KingdomRepublic of IrelandFrance 1991 Did not qualify 3 1 0 2 64 62
South Africa 1995 Pool Stage 3 1 0 2 44 90 2 1 0 1 34 26
Wales 1999 Pool Stage 3 1 0 2 47 171 7 2 0 5 317 241
Australia 2003 Pool Stage 4 0 0 4 46 178 8 4 0 4 398 178
France 2007 Pool Stage 4 2 0 2 89 96 7 3 0 4 329 136
New Zealand 2011 Pool Stage 4 2 0 2 80 98 Automatically qualified
England 2015 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 70 130
Japan 2019 To be determined To be determined
Total 7/8 25 7 0 18 405 861 27 11 0 16 1142 643

Current squad

On the 18 August, head coach Mana Otai announced a 30-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. He will name his 31st man in due course.[4] On 31 August, Tonga announced the 31st player to complete their squad.[5]

  • Head Coach: Tonga Mana Otai
  • Caps Updated: 9 October 2015

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

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province
Aleki Lutui Hooker (1978-07-01) 1 July 1978 (age 46) 38 England Ampthill
Paul Ngauamo Hooker (1986-02-19) 19 February 1986 (age 38) 6 France Mont-de-Marsan
Elvis Taione Hooker (1983-05-25) 25 May 1983 (age 41) 21 England Exeter Chiefs
Halani Aulika Prop (1983-08-31) 31 August 1983 (age 41) 17 England London Irish
Tevita Mailau Prop (1985-04-25) 25 April 1985 (age 39) 18 France Perpignan
Sila Puafisi Prop (1988-04-15) 15 April 1988 (age 36) 23 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Sona Taumalolo Prop (1981-11-13) 13 November 1981 (age 43) 20 France Grenoble
Soane Tonga'uiha Prop (1982-01-21) 21 January 1982 (age 42) 18 France Oyonnax
Uili Kolo'ofai Lock (1982-09-29) 29 September 1982 (age 42) 5 England Jersey
Tukulua Lokotui Lock (1979-12-31) 31 December 1979 (age 44) 28 France Béziers
Steve Mafi Lock (1989-12-09) 9 December 1989 (age 35) 17 Australia Western Force
Joe Tuineau Lock (1981-08-18) 18 August 1981 (age 43) 25 France Dax
Sione Kalamafoni Flanker (1988-05-18) 18 May 1988 (age 36) 29 England Gloucester
Nili Latu (c) Flanker (1982-02-19) 19 February 1982 (age 42) 43 England Newcastle Falcons
Jack Ram Flanker (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 37) 5 New Zealand Blues
Hale T-Pole Flanker (1979-04-30) 30 April 1979 (age 45) 33 Unattached
Opeti Fonua Number 8 (1986-05-26) 26 May 1986 (age 38) 8 England Leicester Tigers
Viliami Ma'afu Number 8 (1982-03-09) 9 March 1982 (age 42) 28 France Oyonnax
Samisoni Fisilau Scrum-half (1987-11-29) 29 November 1987 (age 37) 18 England Jersey
Sosefo Ma’ake Scrum-half (1991-09-15) 15 September 1991 (age 33) 1 Tonga Havelu Bulldogs
Sonatane Takulua Scrum-half (1991-11-01) 1 November 1991 (age 33) 14 England Newcastle Falcons
Latiume Fosita Fly-half (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32) 15 England Doncaster Knights
Kurt Morath Fly-half (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 (age 40) 30 Unattached
Sione Piukala Centre (1985-06-08) 8 June 1985 (age 39) 17 France Perpignan
Siale Piutau Centre (1985-10-13) 13 October 1985 (age 39) 24 Japan Yamaha Júbilo
Viliami Tahitu'a Centre (1991-10-02) 2 October 1991 (age 33) 3 Unattached
David Halaifonua Wing (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 (age 37) 15 England Gloucester
Will Helu Wing (1986-04-19) 19 April 1986 (age 38) 23 Scotland Edinburgh
Fetu'u Vainikolo Wing (1985-01-30) 30 January 1985 (age 39) 25 France Oyonnax
Telusa Veainu Wing (1990-12-26) 26 December 1990 (age 34) 8 England Leicester Tigers
Vunga Lilo Fullback (1983-02-28) 28 February 1983 (age 41) 42 France Montauban

Individual all-time records

Most caps

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
1. Nili Latu Flanker 2006– 43 42 1 23 4 0 1 0 18 24 1 43.02
2. Vunga Lilo Fullback 2007– 42 39 3 87 12 3 7 0 19 23 0 45.23
3. Elisi Vunipola Fly-half 1990–2005 41 40 1 50 8 2 2 0 15 26 0 36.58
4. Pierre Hola Fly-half 1998–2009 39 38 1 317 11 68 39 3 13 26 0 33.33
Benhur Kivalu Number 8 1998–2005 39 35 4 40 8 0 0 0 14 24 1 37.17
6. Aleki Lutui Hooker 1999– 38 30 8 25 5 0 0 0 12 25 1 32.89
7. Manu Vunipola Scrum-half 1987–1999 36 31 5 9 2 0 0 0 12 23 1 34.72
8. Fe'ao Vunipola Hooker 1988–2001 34 32 2 15 3 0 0 0 13 20 1 39.70
9. Ephraim Taukafa Hooker 2002–2011 33 17 16 30 6 0 0 0 14 19 0 42.42
Viliami Vaki Lock 2001–2008 33 26 7 35 7 0 0 0 9 24 0 27.27

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

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. Fetu'u Vainikolo Wing 2011– 24 23 1 75 15 0 0 0
2. Josh Taumalolo Centre 1996–2007 26 23 3 118 14 6 12 0
3. Vunga Lilo Fullback 2007– 41 38 3 87 12 3 7 0
4. Pierre Hola Fly-half 1998–2009 39 38 1 317 11 68 39 3
5. Fepikou Tatafu Centre 1996–2002 23 21 2 50 10 0 0 0
6. Viliame Iongi Wing 2011–2013 18 12 6 40 8 0 0 0
Benhur Kivalu Number 8 1998–2005 39 35 4 40 8 0 0 0
Elisi Vunipola Fly-half 1990–2005 41 40 1 50 8 2 2 0
9. 5 players on 7 tries

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

Leading point scorers

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. Kurt Morath Fly-half 2009– 30 25 5 338 2 47 78 0
2. Pierre Hola Fly-half 1998–2009 39 38 1 317 11 68 39 3
3. Sateki Tu'ipulotu Fullback 1993–2003 20 19 1 190 5 33 32 1
4. Fangatapu Apikotoa Fly-half 2004–2014 30 20 10 147 2 40 19 0
5. Josh Taumalolo Centre 1996–2007 26 23 3 118 14 6 12 0
6. Gustavo Tonga Fullback 1996–2001 13 12 1 114 1 32 15 0
7. Vunga Lilo Fullback 2007– 42 39 3 87 12 3 7 0
8. Fetu'u Vainikolo Wing 2011– 25 24 1 75 15 0 0 0
9. Fepikou Tatafu Centre 1996–2002 23 21 2 50 10 0 0 0
Elisi Vunipola Fly-half 1990–2005 41 40 1 50 8 2 2 0

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

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 Tonga Nuku'alofa 22/03/2003
2. Fangatapu Apikotoa Fly-half 30 2 10 0 0  South Korea New Zealand Henderson 10/02/2007
3. Sateki Tu'ipulotu Fullback 27 1 8 2 0  South Korea South Korea Seoul 04/05/1999
4. Pierre Hola Fullback 24 0 9 1 1  Papua New Guinea Tonga Nuku'alofa 07/12/2002
5. Gustavo Tonga Fullback 23 1 9 0 0  Cook Islands Tonga Nuku'alofa 05/07/1997
6. Benhur Kivalu Fly-half 20 4 0 0 0  South Korea Tonga Nuku'alofa 22/03/2003
Viliame Iongi Centre 20 4 0 0 0  United States England Esher 08/06/2011
Kurt Morath Fly-half 20 0 4 4 0  Fiji 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 Tonga Nuku'alofa 22/03/2003
Viliame Iongi Wing 20 4 0 0 0  United States England Esher 08/06/2011
3. Josh Taumalolo Fly-half 15 3 0 0 0  Cook Islands Tonga Nuku'alofa 05/07/1997
Josh Taumalolo Fullback 17 3 1 0 0  Georgia Georgia (country) Tbilisi 28/03/1999
Jonathan Koloi Flanker 15 3 0 0 0  South Korea South Korea Seoul 04/05/1999
Viliami Hakalo Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Cook Islands 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.

Most matches as captain

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. Nili Latu Flanker 2006– 39 15 23 1 39.74 23 4 0 1 0
2. Inoke Afeaki Lock 2001–2003 12 4 8 0 33.33 15 3 0 0 0
3. Fakahau Valu Flanker 1977–1987 11 0 11 0 0.00 12 3 0 0 0
4. Aleki Lutui Hooker 2004–2011 9 1 8 0 11.11 5 1 0 0 0
Elisi Vunipola Fly-half 1999–2001 9 4 5 0 44.44 15 3 0 0 0
6. Sione Mafi Pahulu Number 8 1973–1975 7 1 6 0 14.28 15 3 0 1 0
7. Siaosi Atiola Number 8 1987–1990 6 1 4 1 25.00 4 1 0 0 0
8. Mana Otai Number 8 1995 5 3 2 0 60.00 5 1 0 0 0
Fe'ao Vunipola Hooker 1994–1998 5 2 3 0 40.00 0 0 0 0 0
10. 5 players on 4 matches

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

Youngest players

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# Player Pos Age Opposition Venue Date
1. Elisi Vunipola Fly-half 17 years and 292 days  Fiji Tonga Nukualofa 24/03/1990
2. Viliami Hakalo (Wing) 18 years and 182 days  Japan Japan Fukuoka 04/06/2006
3. Sione Kalamafoni (Flanker) 18 years and 268 days  South Korea New Zealand Henderson 10/02/2007
4. Soane Havea Scrum-half 18 years and 292 days  New Zealand New Zealand North Shore City 16/06/2000
5. Semi Taupeaafe Wing 18 years and 317 days  Fiji Fiji Suva 11/06/1991
6. Sinali-Tui Latu Number 8 18 years and 320 days  Fiji Fiji Suva 07/07/1984
7. Unuoi Va'enuku Centre 19 years and 51 days  France South Africa Pretoria 26/05/1995
8. Pita Alatini Centre 19 years and 119 days  Samoa Tonga Nuku'alofa 08/07/1995
9. Tevita 'Ahoafi (Scrum-half) 19 years and 171 days  Australia A Australia Sydney 25/05/2007
10. Isi Tapueluelu Centre 19 years and 176 days  Fiji Tonga 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 England Leicester 04/10/2015
2. Hale T-Pole (Number 8) 36 years and 152 days  Namibia England Exeter 29/09/2015
3. Rudi Kapeli Hooker 35 years and 311 days  Australia Australia Brisbane 04/07/1993
4. Tukulua Lokotui Lock 35 years and 282 days  New Zealand England Newcastle 09/10/2015
5. Kuli Faletau Lock 35 years and 185 days  Canada Tonga Nuku'alofa 03/07/1999
6. Ephraim Taukafa Hooker 35 years and 80 days  Canada New Zealand Whangarei 14/09/2011
7. Hemani Lavaka Prop 34 years and 292 days  Canada Australia Wollongong 29/10/2003
8. Tonga Lea'aetoa Prop 34 years and 168 days  Fiji Fiji Lautoka 19/08/2011
9. Kisi Pulu Prop 34 years and 144 days  Fiji Fiji Lautoka 23/06/2012
10. Taufa'ao Filise Prop 34 years and 118 days  Japan New Zealand Whangarei 21/09/2011

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

John Francis Kouliti Ma'u

Notable Former Players

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Haka and Sipi Tau set Lang Park alight ABC
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Tonga rugby stats
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Sources

External links

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