Tonga national rugby union team

Tonga
Nickname	ʻIkale Tahi (The Sea Eagles)
Emblem	White dove
Union	Tonga Rugby Union
Head coach	Tevita Tuʻifua
Captain	Ben Tameifuna
Most caps	Nili Latu (54)
Top scorer	Kurt Morath (340)
Top try scorer	Fetuʻu Vainikolo (18)
Home stadium	Teufaiva Sport Stadium
First colours	Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	16 (as of 2 June 2022)
Highest	9 (2011, 2012)
Lowest	20 (2005, 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 ; (Auckland, New Zealand; 16 June 2000); New Zealand 102–0 Tonga ; (Auckland, New Zealand; 3 July 2021)
World Cup
Appearances	9 (First in 1987)
Best result	Pool stage (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Medal record
Pacific Games

The Tonga national rugby union team (Tongan: timi feohi ʻakapulu fakafonua ʻa Tonga) represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – 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 Maori^[1] 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 knocked over 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"^[2]^[3]

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, in which 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 a 20–16 defeat of France in Nukuʻalofa over a touring France but in 2000 they were defeated 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. Although they kept Wales to 20–27, they were again thrashed by New Zealand 91–7.

In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, winning two of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, before losing 30–25.

Tonga achieved one of the most unexpected victories in Rugby World Cup history with their 19–14 win over France in the 2011 World Cup.^[4]

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 several Pacific rugby nations, Tonga has a pre-game war dance, called the Sipi Tau. It is a form of the Kailao, which was originally a war dance that was imported to Tonga from Wallis Island. It is usually performed at both public and private ceremonies.

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, bringing the teams within metres of one another just prior to kick-off.^[5]

Wins against Tier 1 nations

Tonga have recorded six wins against tier 1 opposition.

30 June 1973	Australia	11–16	Tonga	Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
	Try: Cole Tindall Pen: 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
v
t
e
Top 20 as of 18 November 2024^[6]
Rank	Change^[i]	Team	Points
1		South Africa	092.78
2	1	Ireland	090.78
3	1	New Zealand	090.09
4		France	088.08
5		Argentina	085.40
6		Scotland	082.70
7		England	082.31
8		Australia	082.17
9		Fiji	080.07
10		Italy	078.92
11		Wales	074.01
12		Georgia	073.85
13	1	Japan	072.95
14	1	Samoa	072.68
15	1	United States	068.90
16	1	Portugal	068.82
17		Spain	067.10
18	1	Uruguay	065.94
19	1	Tonga	065.46
20		Romania	064.13
21		Chile	061.72
22		Hong Kong	059.49
23		Canada	059.18
24	3	Netherlands	058.56
25	1	Russia	058.06
26	1	Namibia	057.87
27	2	Zimbabwe	057.16
28	2	Brazil	056.53
29	1	Belgium	056.51
30		Switzerland	056.04

^ Change from the previous week

Tonga's historical rankings

See or edit source data.

Source: World Rugby^[6]
Graph updated to 11 November 2024

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 16 November 2024.^[7]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	2	0	2	0	0.00%	28	73	−45
Australia	4	1	3	0	25%	42	167	−125
Australia A	4	1	3	0	25%	71	210	−139
Canada	12	6	6	0	50%	268	271	−3
Chile	2	2	0	0	100%	71	40	+31
Cook Islands	4	4	0	0	100%	289	32	+257
England	4	0	4	0	0.00%	36	241	−205
England Saxons	1	0	1	0	0.00%	14	41	−27
Fiji	95	27	65	3	28.42%	1,276	1,931	−655
France	6	2	4	0	33.33%	96	172	−76
French Barbarians	3	2	1	0	66.67%	94	107	-13
Georgia	7	2	5	0	28.57%	141	119	+22
Hong Kong	1	1	0	0	100%	44	22	+22
Ireland	3	0	3	0	0.00%	44	131	−87
Italy	6	2	4	0	33.33%	96	190	−94
Ivory Coast	1	1	0	0	100%	29	11	+18
Japan	18	9	9	0	50%	453	459	−6
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100%	55	35	+20
New Caledonia	1	1	0	0	100.00%	58	3	+55
New Zealand	7	0	7	0	0.00%	42	519	−477
Junior All Blacks	3	0	3	0	0.00%	48	124	−76
Māori	12	4	8	0	33.33%	165	319	−154
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	100%	131	26	+105
Portugal	1	1	0	0	100%	24	19	+5
Romania	6	3	3	0	50%	144	136	+8
Samoa	70	27	39	4	38.57%	1,045	1,334	−289
Scotland	6	1	5	0	16.67%	89	241	−152
Scotland XV	2	0	2	0	0.00%	13	67	−54
Solomon Islands	1	1	0	0	100%	92	3	+89
South Korea	6	6	0	0	100%	464	66	+398
South Africa	3	0	3	0	0.00%	53	153	−100
Spain	3	2	1	0	66.67%	88	48	+40
Tahiti	1	1	0	0	100%	74	0	+74
Uruguay	1	1	0	0	100%	43	19	+24
United States	11	9	2	0	81.82%	289	189	+100
Wales	9	0	9	0	0.00%	108	301	−193
Wales XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	7	26	−19
Zimbabwe	1	1	0	0	100%	42	13	+29
Total	322	122	193	7	37.89%	6,166	7,858	−1,692

World Cup record

Rugby World Cup record

Qualification

Year

Round

Pld

W

D

L

PF

PA

Squad

Head coach

Pos

Pld

W

D

L

PF

PA

1987

Pool stage

3

0

3

29

98

Squad

V. Tuku'aho

Invited

1991

Did not qualify

3rd

3

1

0

2

64

62

1995

Pool stage

3

1

0

2

44

90

Squad

F. Valu

1st

2

1

0

1

34

26

1999

Pool stage

3

1

0

2

47

171

Squad

P. Tu'ihalamaka

4th

7

2

0

5

317

241

2003

Pool stage

4

0

4

46

178

Squad

J. Love

3rd

8

4

0

4

398

178

2007

Pool stage

4

2

0

2

89

96

Squad

Q. Fielea

3rd

7

3

0

4

329

136

2011

Pool stage

4

2

0

2

80

98

Squad

I. Maka

Automatically qualified

2015

Pool stage

4

1

0

3

70

130

Squad

M. Otai

2019

Pool stage

4

1

0

3

67

105

Squad

T. Kefu

2nd

4

1

0

3

68

93

2023

Pool stage

4

1

0

3

96

177

Squad

2nd

4

2

0

2

126

111

Total

—

33

9

0

24

568

1,143

—

35

14

0

21

1,336

847

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place	Home venue

Pacific Nations Cup

Tonga previously competed in the Pacific Tri-Nations winning three tournaments. The Pacific Nations Cup replaced the Tri-Nations tournament in 2006. Tonga have yet to win a tournament.

Tournament	Won	Drawn	Lost	Tonga finish
2006	2	0	2	4th / 5
2007	1	0	4	5th / 6
2008	1	0	4	6th / 6
2009	0	0	4	5th / 5
2010	0	0	3	4th / 4
2011	2	0	1	2nd / 4
2012	1	0	2	3rd / 4
2013	2	0	2	3rd / 5
2014	0	1	1	3rd / 3
2015	3	0	1	3rd / 6
2016	0	0	2	3rd / 3
2017	1	0	1	2nd / 3
2018	1	0	1	2nd / 4
2019	1	0	2	5th / 6
2022	0	0	3	4th / 4
2023	0	0	3	4th / 4
2024	1	0	2	5th / 6
Total	16	1	38	0 titles

Players

Current squad

On 26 October, Tonga named a 30-player squad for their 2024 November internationals.^[8]

Head Coach: Tevita Tuʻifua

Caps Updated: 16 November 2024 (after game v USA)

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Sekope Lopeti-Moli	Hooker	(1996-08-12) 12 August 1996 (age 28)	2	Moutere RFC
Sam Moli	Hooker	(1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 (age 25)	18	Moana Pasifika
Sosefo Sakalia	Hooker	(1991-12-14) 14 December 1991 (age 32)	21	Kolomotu’a RC
Duane Aholelei	Prop	(1989-02-16) 16 February 1989 (age 35)	1	Dubai Exiles
Jethro Felemi	Prop	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30)	13	GPS
Tau Koloamatangi	Prop	(1995-01-03) 3 January 1995 (age 29)	15	Miami Sharks
Paula Latu	Prop	(1996-02-14) 14 February 1996 (age 28)	4	Southland
Ben Tameifuna	Prop	(1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 (age 33)	38	Bordeaux Bègles
Salesi Tuifua	Prop		3	Pakuranga
Adam Coleman	Lock	(1991-08-07) 7 August 1991 (age 33)	5	Bordeaux Bègles
Kelemete Finau-Fetuli	Lock		5	Kumeu
Harison Mataele	Lock	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30)	10	Eastern Suburbs
Justin Mataele	Lock		2	Bury St Edmunds
Semisi Paea	Lock	(1999-04-17) 17 April 1999 (age 25)	9	Bay of Plenty
Tupou Afungia	Back row	(1999-09-12) 12 September 1999 (age 25)	5	San Diego Legion
Tevita Ahokovi	Back row		6	Auckland Marist
Sione Havili Talitui	Back row	(1998-01-25) 25 January 1998 (age 26)	15	Moana Pasifika
Lotu Inisi	Back row	(1999-04-26) 26 April 1999 (age 25)	8	Moana Pasifika
Aisea Halo	Scrum-half	(1993-06-29) 29 June 1993 (age 31)	10	Moana Pasifika
Johnny Ika	Scrum-half		1	Hawke's Bay
Siaosi Nginingini	Scrum-half	(1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 26)	2	Moana Pasifika
William Havili	Fly-half	(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 26)	15	Moana Pasifika
Patrick Pellegrini	Fly-half	(1998-09-28) 28 September 1998 (age 26)	11	Moana Pasifika
Fine Inisi	Centre	(1998-05-19) 19 May 1998 (age 26)	15	Moana Pasifika
Fetuli Paea	Centre	(1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 30)	13	Zebre Parma
John Tapueluelu	Centre	(1999-04-07) 7 April 1999 (age 25)	5	Alhambra
Tima Fainga’anuku	Wing	(1997-04-26) 26 April 1997 (age 27)	7	North Harbour
Taniela Filimone	Wing	(1999-06-01) 1 June 1999 (age 25)	3	New Orleans Gold
Lolesio Sailosi	Wing		0	Apifo’ou College
Poasi Tonga	Wing		1	Junior Ikale Tahi
Josiah Unga	Fullback		2	Auckland Marist

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Tongan national team:^[9]

Name	Nationality	Role
Tilitili Puloka	TON	Manager
Tevita Tuʻifua	TON	Head Coach
Nili Latu	TON	Assistant Coach
Pauliasi Manu	TON	Scrum Coach
Joe Tu’ineau	TON	Lineout Coach
Viliami Maʻafu	TON	Defence Coach
Kurt Morath	TON	Skills Coach
Isi Fatani	TON	Breakdown Coach
Semisi Fonua	TON	Strength & Conditioning coach
Joh Fifita	TON	Performance Analyst
Dr. Penisimani Poloniati	TON	Team doctor
Siosaia Vakasiuola	TON	Physiotherapist

Individual all-time records

Most caps

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Start	Sub	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Won	Lost	Draw	%
1	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	2014–2023	58	53	5	278	17	44	35	0	22	35	1	41.66
2	Nili Latu	Flanker	2006–2017	48	47	1	28	5	0	1	0	19	28	1	40.62
3	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–2018	44	41	3	87	12	3	7	0	19	25	0	43.18
4	Siale Piutau	Wing	2011–2019	43	41	2	32	6	1	0	0	17	25	1	40.69
5	Steve Mafi	Lock	2010–2023	42	31	11	10	2	0	0	0	20	22	0	48.42
6	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0	15	26	0	36.58
7	Kurt Morath	Fly-half	2009–2021	40	34	6	340	2	48	78	0	18	22	0	47.36
8	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	322	12	68	42	3	19	20	0	48.72
8	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	1998–2005	39	35	4	40	8	0	0	0	14	24	1	37.17
10	Aleki Lutui	Hooker	1999–2015	38	30	8	25	5	0	0	0	12	25	1	32.89
10	Ben Tameifuna	Prop	2017-present	38	28	10	20	4	0	0	0	12	26	0	30.00

Last updated: United States vs Tonga, 16 November 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.