The Tonga Rugby team – or the ‘Ikale Tahi’ (Sea Eagles) – are Tonga’s international rugby union side and are currently members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, alongside neighbouring Polynesian nations Fiji and Samoa. The team plays in Rugby World Cup tournaments, as well as the annual World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, which they currently have yet to win.
Read on to discover everything there is to know about the Tonga Rugby team. On this page, you can learn more about the history of the team and see their latest fixtures and results.
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The Tonga Rugby team – or the ‘Ikale Tahi’ (Sea Eagles) – are Tonga’s international rugby union side and are currently members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, alongside neighbouring Polynesian nations Fiji and Samoa. The team plays in Rugby World Cup tournaments, as well as the annual World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, which they currently have yet to win.
Read on to discover everything there is to know about the Tonga Rugby team. On this page, you can learn more about the history of the team and see their latest fixtures and results.
Similar to other Pacific island nations, rugby union was first introduced to Tonga by sailors and missionaries in the 1920s, with the official establishment of the international side in 1923. The Tonga Rugby team then played their first game in 1924 in a test match against Fiji, beating them 9-6. In the decades following this, Tonga’s international games were mainly against nearby Pacific nations and it was only in the late 60s and early 70s they travelled to Australasia and Europe.
These tours were often quite intense and the Tonga Rugby team developed a reputation for being quite an aggressive side. However, this wasn’t to the detriment of their rugby prowess, as the side was invited to compete in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, where they finished at the pool stage.
To date Tonga has yet to place higher at a Rugby World Cup tournament, but they have featured in all competitions except the 1991 tournament. This has seen some memorable performances from the side, such as the surprising 19-13 win over France in 2011.
Ben Betts Prop 
Ben Tameifuna Prop 
Dan Tuohy Lock 
Daniel Faleafa Flanker 6 
David Lolohea Tight head prop 
Don Lolo Lock 4 
Duke Nginingini Prop 
Fotu Lokotui Flanker 7 
Ian Evans Lock 
Jay Fonokalafi Loosehead Prop 
Jethro Felemi Prop 
Leva Fifita Lock 
Loni Uhila Prop 
Lopeti Timani Lock 
Lua Li Prop 
Ma'afu Fia Prop 
Maama Vaipulu Number 8 
Mateaki Kafatolu Flanker 6 
Nasi Manu Number 8 
Nicola Cattina Lock Nicola Cattina Lock 
Onehunga Havili Flanker 7 
Paula Ngauamo Hooker 
Sam Dickinson Number 8 
Samiuela Moli Hooker 
Shaun Knight Prop 
Siegfried Fisiihoi Prop 
Sila Puafisi Prop 
Sione Tuipolotu Lock 4 
Sione Vailanu Number 8 
Siua Maile Hooker 
Solomone Funaki Blindside Flanker 
Tanginoa Halaifonua Lock 
Tom Johnson Flanker 6 
Toma Taufa Prop 
Valentino Mapapalangi Flanker 6 
Wandile Putuma Lock 
Zane Kapeli Flanker 7 
Afeafe Haisila-Lokotui Centre 
Afusipa Taumoepeau Wing 
Aisea Halo Scrum Half 
Atunaisa Manu Right wing 
Cecil Afrika Fly half 
Fine Inisi Centre 13 
Hosea Saumaki Wing 
JC Roos Centre 
JacopoTrulla 
James Faiva Fly half 
John Tapueluelu Fullback 
Kali Hala Fly half 
Kurt Morath Fly half 
Leon Fukofuka Scrum half 
Luatangi Li 
Maile Ngauamo 
Mali Hingano Centre 
Malietoa Hingano 
Nafi Tu'itavake Right Wing 
Nikolai Foliaki Centre 
Oliver Zono Fly half 
Penikolo Latu Wing 
Robbie Fruean Centre 
Sam Vaka Centre 
Setefano Funaki 
Solomone Kata 
Sonatane Takulua Scrum half 
Tau Koloamatangi Fullback 
Telusa Veainu Wing 
Vaea Tutuila Vaea Inside centre 
Viliami Fine Fullback 
Viliami Taulani Fly Half 
Walter Fifita The Tonga Rugby team has seen its fair share of quality players in the past. Popular flanker Nili Latu – who also is Tonga’s most capped player – being one example. There’s also record try scorer and winger Fetu'u Vainikolo and all-time leading point scorer and fly-half Kurt Morath.
The current squad includes popular players like Stade Français fullback Telusa Veainu and Bristol Bears centre Siale Piutau. Much like other Pacific nations, the Tonga Rugby team typically perform a war dance before each game, this is called the Sipi Tau
Tonga Rugby Team 
