Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa headline Tonga squad
Former All Blacks and Wallabies stars Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa headline the newly-named Tonga squad to compete in July’s Pacific Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier.
All three players were included in Toutai Kefu’s 31-man ‘Ikale Tahi squad to face Fiji, Samoa and Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup, which precedes a World Cup playoff match against either Hong Kong, South Korea or Malaysia.
The inclusion of Folau, Piutau and Fekitoa marks the return to international rugby for all three players under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws introduced on January 1.
Those laws allow test-capped players to represent a second country that they are qualified for via birthright following a three-year stand down from international rugby.
Folau, Piutau and Fekitoa qualify for Tonga under those regulations as all three players have been absent from test rugby for at least four years.
After playing the last of his 73 tests for the Wallabies in November 2018, Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia the following year after he published an Instagram post that said hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and others.
Since then, the 33-year-old has flitted between rugby union and rugby league, but has found a home for himself at the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu in Japan Rugby League One this year, scoring 10 tries in 12 matches.
Folau is expected to start in an all-star ‘Ikale Tahi backline alongside Piutau and Fekitoa, both of whom last played for the All Blacks in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
Piutau and Fekitoa players have starred for their respective clubs since departing New Zealand for the riches of Europe, and will provide Tonga with plenty of star power in a squad that also features former two-test All Blacks halfback Augustine Pulu.
Pulu last played for the All Blacks in 2014, and joins Folau, Piutau and Fekitoa as four of 13 players primed to make their ‘Ikale Tahi debuts.
All but one of the other uncapped players named in the Tonga side are from Moana Pasifika, the new Super Rugby Pacific franchise that has provided Kefu with a total of 13 players in his latest squad.
The uncapped Moana Pasifika players in the Tonga squad are props Tau Koloamatangi and Joe ‘Apikotoa, lock Veikoso Poloniati, loose forward Lotu Inisi, halfback Manu Paea, first-five William Havili, and wings Tima Fainga’anuku and Anzelo Tuitavuki.
Koloamatangi, a one-test Hong Kong international, and Inisi were both part of the Tonga squad named to face the All Blacks, Samoa and the Cook Islands last July, but never took to the field.
All of those players are joined by former Highlanders and Chiefs prop Siate Tokolahi, now plying his trade in France for Pau, as the uncapped contingent in the ‘Ikale Tahi squad.
A further five Moana Pasifika players – hooker Sam Moli, loose forwards Solomone Funaki and Sione Tu’ipulotu, midfielder Fine Inisi and wing Solomone Kata – have also been named by Kefu.
Toulon halfback Sonatane Takulua, Bordeaux prop Ben Tameifuna, Highlanders midfielder Fetuli Paea, Scarlets lock Sam Lousi, Harlequins loose forward Viliami Taulani and Pau prop Siegfried Fisiihoi are other notable inclusions in the Tonga set-up.
Other former internationals, such as ex-All Blacks midfielder George Moala, are also now eligible for Tonga selection but haven’t been included in this squad, while more are expected to become available in the coming months.
That could see former Wallabies duo Sekope Kepu and Adam Coleman, as well as ex-All Blacks pair Vaea Fifita and Atu Moli, added to the ‘Ikale Tahi squad for the November test window.
Tonga will open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Fiji in Suva on July 3, which will be followed by matches against Samoa and Australia A in Lautoka on July 10 and July 17, respectively.
The ‘Ikale Tahi will then play their World Cup qualifier against the winner of next month’s Asian Rugby Championship in Australia on July 23.
The winner of that playoff match will join South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania in Pool B at next year’s World Cup in France.
Tonga Pacific Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier squad
Loosehead Props: Siegfried Fisiihoi, Tau Kolomatangi, David Lolohea
Hookers: Sam Moli, Siua Maile, Jay Fonokalafi
Tighthead Props: Siate Tokolahi, Ben Tameifuna, Joe ‘Apikotoa
Locks: Sam Lousi, Leva Fifita, Veikoso Poloniati
Loose Forwards: Tanginoa Halaifonua, Viliami Taulani, Lotu Inisi, Solomone Funaki, Sione Tu’ipulotu
Halfbacks: Sonatane Takulua, Augustine Pulu, Manu Paea
First-Fives: William Havili, James Faiva
Midfielders: Malakai Fekitoa, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Fetuli Paea, Fine Inisi
Outside Backs: Solomone Kata, Charles Piutau, Tima Fainga’anuku, Israel Folau, Anzelo Tuitavuki
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to comments