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Tonga
Malakai Fekitoa Ben Tameifuna Fine Inisi
Malakai Fekitoa Ben Tameifuna Fine Inisi

The Tonga rugby team - or the 'Ikale Tahi' (Sea Eagles) - are Tonga's international rugby union side. They compete in the Pacific Nations Cup, the World Rugby Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup

Tonga Form last 5 games 🥶 loss streak

🥶 Streak
1 loss

Tonga News

3 up, 6 down as World Rankings get shaken up

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World Ranking

Tonga are currently 19th in the World Rugby Rankings. Their highest ever ranking was 9th in June 2012.

Ranking Over Time

Date {{date}}
Rank # {{rank}}
Points {{points}}
2003
2015
2026

Tonga Matches

Sat 11 Jul, 2026
Round 2
Tonga Tonga
Round 2
19
-
32
FT
Spain Spain
Clarke Stadium
Sat 18 Jul, 2026
Round 3
Princess Auto Stadium
Sat 2 Oct, 2027
Round 1
England England
Round 1
03:15
Tonga Tonga

Tonga Rugby Team Players

Tonga Forwards

Name
Position
Siegfried Fisiihoi
Siegfried Fisiihoi
Prop
Tonga Rugby Team
Jay Fonokalafi
Prop
Paula Latu
Paula Latu
Prop
Tau Koloamatangi
Tau Koloamatangi
Prop
Feao Fotuaika
Feao Fotuaika
Prop
Samiuela Moli
Samiuela Moli
Hooker
Sekope Lopeti
Sekope Lopeti
Hooker
Siua Maile
Siua Maile
Hooker
Sosefo Sakalia
Sosefo Sakalia
Hooker
Tonga Rugby Team
Leopino Maupese
Hooker
Phil Kite
Phil Kite
Prop
Tonga Rugby Team
Solomone Tukuafu
Prop
Siate Tokolahi
Siate Tokolahi
Prop
Ben Tameifuna
Ben Tameifuna
Prop
Atunaisa Moli
Atunaisa Moli
Prop
Veikoso Poloniati
Veikoso Poloniati
Lock
Semisi Paea
Semisi Paea
Lock
Tonga Rugby Team
Tevita Ahokovi
Lock
Tanginoa Halaifonua
Tanginoa Halaifonua
Lock
Tonga Rugby Team
Justin Mataele
Lock
Tonga Rugby Team
Frank Mafi
Lock
Jimmy Tupou
Jimmy Tupou
Lock
Adam Coleman
Adam Coleman
Lock
Leva Fifita
Leva Fifita
Lock
Sitaleki Timani
Sitaleki Timani
Lock
Tonga Rugby Team
Sam Tuitupou
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Sione Tu'ipulotu
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Tupou Ma'afu-Afungia
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Talimoni Finau
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Siosiua Moala
Back Row
Siosiua Kaifa
Siosiua Kaifa
Back Row
Otunuku Pauta
Otunuku Pauta
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Fotu Lokotui
Back Row
Lotu Inisi
Lotu Inisi
Back Row
Tonga Rugby Team
Fatongia Paea
Tonga Rugby Team
Salesi Tuifua
Tonga Rugby Team
Rodney Tongotea
Tonga Rugby Team
Maka Mafileo
Tonga Rugby Team
Isikeli Fukofuka
Tonga Rugby Team
Brad Leuila
Tonga Rugby Team
Mahroni Ngakuru

Tonga Backs

Name
Position
Augustine Pulu
Augustine Pulu
Scrum Half
Siaosi Nginingini
Siaosi Nginingini
Scrum Half
Sonatane Takulua
Sonatane Takulua
Scrum Half
Siaosi Nai
Siaosi Nai
Scrum Half
Manu Paea
Manu Paea
Scrum Half
Aisea Halo
Aisea Halo
Scrum Half
Otumaka Mausia
Otumaka Mausia
Fly Half
Patrick Pellegrini
Patrick Pellegrini
Fly Half
James Faiva
James Faiva
Fly Half
Solomone Kata
Solomone Kata
Outside Back
Anzelo Tuitavuki
Anzelo Tuitavuki
Outside Back
Taniela Filimone
Taniela Filimone
Outside Back
Telusa Veainu
Telusa Veainu
Outside Back
Tonga Rugby Team
Lolesio Sailosi
Outside Back
Tonga Rugby Team
Ofa Manuofetoa
Centre
Fetuli Paea
Fetuli Paea
Centre
Fine Inisi
Fine Inisi
Centre
Nikolai Foliaki
Nikolai Foliaki
Centre
Pita Ahki
Pita Ahki
Centre
Tonga Rugby Team
Tima Fainga'anuku
Outside Back
Sione Tui
Sione Tui
Outside Back
William Havili
William Havili
Outside Back
Tonga Rugby Team
Tyler Pulini
Outside Back
Charles Piutau
Charles Piutau
Outside Back
Tonga Rugby Team
Josiah Unga
Outside Back
John Tapueluelu
John Tapueluelu
Outside Back

Tonga Tournaments

Tonga Rugby Team

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.

The Tonga rugby team has seen its fair share of quality players in the past. Popular flanker Nili Latu - who was once Tonga's most-capped player - being one example. There's also record try scorer Sonatane Takulua and all-time leading point scorer and fly-half Kurt Morath.

Much like other Pacific nations, the Tonga rugby team typically perform a war dance before each game, this is called the Sipi Tau.

FAQs

When was the Tonga rugby team founded?

The Tonga rugby team was founded in 1924. In that year, the team faced Fiji in their first international fixture. They won the match 9-6. 

What is the Tonga rugby team’s biggest win?

Tonga’s biggest win came back in March 2003. They defeated South Korea 119-0 in Nukuʻalofa. 

What is the Tonga rugby team’s biggest defeat?

Tonga have been defeated 102-0 twice in their history. On both occasions, they were beaten heavily by New Zealand in Auckland. 

Have Tonga ever appeared at the Rugby World Cup?

Yes, Tonga have appeared at nine editions of the Rugby World Cup. They have only missed one tournament: the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Sadly though, they’ve never progressed past the pool stage. 

Who is Tonga's record appearance maker?

Tonga’s record appearance maker is Sonatane Takulua. He’s still very much in his prime and will be looking to add to his record in the coming months and years. 

Who has scored the most tries for Tonga?

Sonatane Takulua is Tonga’s record try-scorer. 

Who has scored the most points for Tonga?

Kurt Morath has scored the most points for Tonga. He scored 340 points for his country between 2009 and 2021. 

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