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.
Moana Pasifika have added two Tongan internationals to their growing roster ahead of their debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Selecting players from Australia and New Zealand would be more difficult because of those nations' border restrictions with a squad likely to be named later this week.
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.
Rugby World Cup Rugby World Cup 
Rugby World Cup | Round 5 | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | PD | BP T | BP -7 | BP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-  Wales | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 69 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
-  Japan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 62 | 53 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
-  England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 119 | 20 | 99 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
-  New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 157 | 22 | 135 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
-  Australia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 68 | 68 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 |
-  Ireland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 121 | 27 | 94 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 |
-  France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 51 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
-  South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 185 | 36 | 149 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
-  Italy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 78 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
-  Scotland | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 55 | 64 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
-  Argentina | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 91 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
-  Fiji | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 108 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
-  Tonga | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 105 | -38 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
-  Georgia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 122 | -57 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
-  Samoa | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 128 | -70 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
-  Uruguay | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 140 | -80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
-  Namibia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 175 | -141 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
-  Canada | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 177 | -163 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
-  USA | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 156 | -104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Russia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 160 | -141 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Round 5 |
|---|
| - Wales |
| - Japan |
| - England |
| - New Zealand |
| - Australia |
| - Ireland |
| - France |
| - South Africa |
| - Italy |
| - Scotland |
| - Argentina |
| - Fiji |
| - Tonga |
| - Georgia |
| - Samoa |
| - Uruguay |
| - Namibia |
| - Canada |
| - USA |
| - Russia |
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 Tameifuna Prop 
Don Lolo Lock 4 
Duke Nginingini Prop 
Jay Fonokalafi Loosehead Prop 
Jethro Felemi Prop 
Lua Li Prop 
Maama Vaipulu Number 8 
Mateaki Kafatolu Flanker 6 
Nasi Manu Number 8 
Samiuela Moli Hooker 
Sila Puafisi Prop 
Sione Tuipolotu Lock 4 
Solomone Funaki Flanker 6 
Zane Kapeli Flanker 7 
Aisea Halo Scrum Half 
Fine Inisi 
Hosea Saumaki Wing 
JacopoTrulla 
James Faiva Fly half 
John Tapueluelu Fullback 
Kali Hala Fly half 
Leon Fukofuka Scrum half 
Luatangi Li 
Malietoa Hingano 
Nafi Tu'itavake Right Wing 
Nikolai Foliaki Centre 
Penikolo Latu Wing 
Sam Vaka Centre 
Siua Maile 
Sonatane Takulua Scrum half 
Tau Koloamatangi 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
