Tonga national rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team represents Tonga in men's international rugby union it's nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – 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.

Not to be confused with Tonga national rugby league team.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Tonga women's national rugby union team.

Tonga

Nickname(s)	ʻIkale Tahi
Emblem	White dove
Union	Tonga Rugby Football Union
Head coach	Toutai Kefu
Captain	Siale Piutau
Most caps	Nili Latu (54)
Top scorer	Kurt Morath (338)
Top try scorer	Fetu'u Vainikolo (15)
Home stadium	Teufaiva Sport Stadium
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	14 (as of 9 Feb 2020)
Highest	9 (2011)
Lowest	20 (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 (Albany, New Zealand; 16 June 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	8 (First in 1987)
Best result	Pool stage, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019
Medal record International medals Pacific Games 1979 Suva 1963 Suva 1983 Apia
Website	www.tongarugbyunion.net

History

Main article: Tonga at the Rugby World Cup

See also: Rugby union in Tonga

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 Māori 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"

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.

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

Main article: Kailao

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.[1]

Wins against Tier 1 nations

30 June 1973	Australia	11–16	Tonga	Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
	Try: Cole Tindall Con: 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
Top 30 rankings as of 9 March 2020[2]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		South Africa	094.19
2		New Zealand	092.11
3		England	088.41
4		Ireland	084.91
5		France	082.73
6		Wales	082.64
7		Australia	081.90
8		Scotland	080.68
9		Japan	079.28
10		Argentina	078.31
11		Fiji	076.21
12		Georgia	072.88
13		Tonga	071.44
14		Italy	071.07
15		Samoa	070.72
16		United States	068.10
17		Uruguay	067.41
18		Spain	067.14
19		Romania	065.36
20	4	Russia	062.13
21	1	Portugal	061.27
22	1	Hong Kong	061.23
23	1	Canada	061.12
24	1	Namibia	061.01
25		Netherlands	060.08
26		Brazil	058.89
27		Belgium	057.19
28		Switzerland	054.11
29		Chile	053.83
30		Germany	053.13
*Change from the previous week
Tonga's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 27 January 2020[2]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 22 April 2020.[3]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	2	0	2	0	0%	28	73	–45
Australia	4	1	3	0	25%	42	167	—125
Australia A	1	0	1	0	0.00%	15	60	–45
Canada	9	4	5	0	44.44%	188	216	–28
Chile	1	1	0	0	100.00%	32	30	+2
Cook Islands	3	3	0	0	100.00%	235	22	+213
England	3	0	3	0	0.00%	33	172	–139
England XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	17	37	–20
Fiji	92	27	62	3	30.97%	1237	1809	–572
France	6	2	4	0	33.33%	96	172	–76
Georgia	7	2	5	0	33.33%	141	119	+22
Ireland	2	0	2	0	0.00%	28	72	—44
Italy	5	2	3	0	40.00%	82	154	–72
Ivory Coast	1	1	0	0	100.00%	29	11	+18
Japan	18	9	9	0	50.00%	453	459	–6
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100%	55	35	+20
New Caledonia	1	1	0	0	100%	58	3	+55
New Zealand	6	0	6	0	0.00%	42	418	–376
Junior All Blacks	2	0	2	0	0.00%	23	77	–54
Māori	12	4	8	0	33.33%	165	319	—154
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	100.00%	131	26	+105
Portugal	1	1	0	0	100.00%	24	19	+5
Romania	3	2	1	0	66.67%	64	55	+9
Samoa	65	27	34	4	42.19%	973	1144	–171
Scotland	4	1	3	0	25.00%	58	136	–78
Scotland XV	2	0	2	0	0.00%	13	67	–55
Solomon Islands	1	1	0	0	0.00%	92	3	+89
South Korea	6	6	0	0	100.00%	464	66	+398
South Africa	2	0	2	0	0.00%	35	104	–69
Spain	1	1	0	0	100.00%	28	13	+15
Tahiti	1	1	0	0	100.00%	74	0	+74
United States	10	9	1	0	88.89%	272	153	+119
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	100.00%	42	13	+29
Total	286	111	168	7	38.81%	5384	6551	–1167

World Cup Record

World Cup record									World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A		P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Pool Stage	3	0	0	3	29	98		Automatically qualified
1991	Did not qualify								3	1	0	2	64	62
1995	Pool Stage	3	1	0	2	44	90		2	1	0	1	34	26
1999	Pool Stage	3	1	0	2	47	171		7	2	0	5	317	241
2003	Pool Stage	4	0	0	4	46	178		8	4	0	4	398	178
2007	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	89	96		7	3	0	4	329	136
2011	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	80	98		Automatically qualified
2015	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	70	130
2019	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	67	105		4	1	0	3	68	93
Total	8/9	29	8	0	21	472	966		31	12	0	19	1210	736

Current squad

Tonga announced their 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup on 1 September 2019.[4]

On 24 September, Kurt Morath and Nafi Tuitavake were ruled out for the remainder of the tournament following injuries sustained in Tonga's opening match against England. Latiume Fosita and Fetuli Paea replaced them.[5]

Note: Caps correct as of 13 October 2019

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province Siua Maile Hooker (1997-02-18) 18 February 1997 3 Shirley Rugby Club Paul Ngauamo Hooker (1990-02-19) 19 February 1990 22 Agen Sosefo Sakalia Hooker (1991-12-14) 14 December 1991 13 Asia Pacific Dragons Maʻafu Fia Prop (1989-11-22) 22 November 1989 10 Ospreys Vunipola Fifita Prop (1996-02-18) 18 February 1996 5 Brumbies Siegfried Fisi'ihoi Prop (1987-06-08) 8 June 1987 13 Pau Siua Halanukonuka Prop (1986-08-09) 9 August 1986 13 Glasgow Warriors Latu Talakai Prop (1989-12-26) 26 December 1989 7 Eastwood Ben Tameifuna Prop (1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 13 Racing 92 Leva Fifita Lock (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 19 Grenoble Sam Lousi Lock (1991-07-20) 20 July 1991 8 Hurricanes Steve Mafi Lock (1989-12-09) 9 December 1989 33 London Irish Daniel Faleafa Loose forward (1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 25 Austin Elite Sione Kalamafoni Loose forward (1988-05-18) 18 May 1988 37 Leicester Tigers Zane Kapeli Loose forward (1992-09-28) 28 September 1992 10 Bay of Plenty Fotu Lokotui Loose forward (1992-03-19) 19 March 1992 9 Kagifa Samoa Nasi Manu Loose forward (1988-08-15) 15 August 1988 7 Benetton Maama Vaipulu Loose forward (1989-07-21) 21 July 1989 12 Castres Samisoni Fisilau Half-back (1987-11-29) 29 November 1987 19 Auckland Marist Leon Fukofuka Half-back (1994-09-08) 8 September 1994 11 Kagifa Samoa Sonatane Takulua Half-back (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 38 Newcastle Falcons James Faiva First five-eighth (1994-06-13) 13 June 1994 9 El Salvador Latiume Fosita First five-eighth (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 32 Kagifa Samoa Mali Hingano Centre (1992-01-27) 27 January 1992 7 Bayonne Siale Piutau (c) Centre (1985-10-13) 13 October 1985 43 Bristol Rugby Viliami Lolohea Wing (1993-07-04) 4 July 1993 11 Papatoetoe Fetuli Paea Wing (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 2 Tasman Atieli Pakalani Wing (1989-08-02) 2 August 1989 13 Eastwood Cooper Vuna Wing (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 16 Newcastle Falcons David Halaifonua Fullback (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 37 Coventry Telusa Veainu Fullback (1990-12-26) 26 December 1990 11 Leicester Tigers

Individual all-time records

Most caps

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Start	Sub	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Won	Lost	Draw	%
1.	Nili Latu	Flanker	2006–2017	48	47	1	28	5	0	1	0	19	28	1	40.62
2.	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–2018	44	41	3	87	12	3	7	0	19	25	0	43.18
3.	Siale Piutau	Wing	2011–2019	43	41	2	32	6	1	0	0	17	25	1	40.69
4.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0	15	26	0	36.58
5.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	312	10	68	39	3	13	26	0	33.33
	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	1998–2005	39	35	4	40	8	0	0	0	14	24	1	37.17
7.	Aleki Lutui	Hooker	1999–2015	38	30	8	25	5	0	0	0	12	25	1	32.89
	Kurt Morath	Fly-half	2009–2019	38	32	6	340	2	48	78	0	18	20	0	47.36
	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	2014-	38	36	2	216	9	36	33	0	16	21	1	43.42
10.	David Halaifonua	Wing	2009–	37	30	7	27	4	2	1	0	13	23	1	36.48
	Sione Kalamafoni	Flanker	2007–2019	37	33	4	10	2	0	0	0	12	25	0	32.43

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Start	Sub	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop
1.	Fetu'u Vainikolo	Wing	2011–2016	28	27	1	85	17	0	0	0
2.	Josh Taumalolo	Centre	1996–2007	26	23	3	118	14	6	12	0
3.	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–2018	44	41	3	87	12	3	7	0
4.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	312	10	68	39	3
	Fepikou Tatafu	Centre	1996–2002	23	21	2	50	10	0	0	0
6.	Viliame Iongi	Wing	2011–2016	21	15	6	45	9	0	0	0
	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	1998–2005	39	35	4	45	9	0	0	0
	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	2014–	38	36	2	216	9	36	33	0
9.	Telusa Veainu	Wing	2015-	12	12	0	40	8	0	0	0
	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Leading point scorers

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Start	Sub	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop
1.	Kurt Morath	Fly-half	2009–2019	38	32	6	340	2	48	78	0
2.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	312	10	68	39	3
3.	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	2014–	38	36	2	216	9	36	33	0
4.	Sateki Tu'ipulotu	Fullback	1993–2003	20	19	1	190	5	33	32	1
5.	Fangatapu Apikotoa	Fly-half	2004–2014	30	20	10	147	2	40	19	0
6.	Josh Taumalolo	Centre	1996–2007	26	23	3	118	14	6	12	0
7.	Kusitafu Tonga	Fullback	1996–2001	13	12	1	114	1	32	15	0
8.	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–2018	44	41	3	87	12	3	7	0
9.	Fetu'u Vainikolo	Wing	2011–2016	28	27	1	85	17	0	0	0
10.	Fepikou Tatafu	Centre	1996–2002	23	21	2	50	10	0	0	0
	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points in a match

#	Player	Pos	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Pierre Hola	Centre	39	1	17	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
2.	Fangatapu Apikotoa	Fly-half	30	2	10	0	0	South Korea	Henderson	10/02/2007
3.	Sateki Tu'ipulotu	Fullback	27	1	8	2	0	South Korea	Seoul	04/05/1999
4.	Benhur Kivalu	Fly-half	25	5	0	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
5.	Pierre Hola	Fullback	24	0	9	1	1	Papua New Guinea	Nuku'alofa	07/12/2002
6.	Gustavo Tonga	Fullback	23	1	9	0	0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa	05/07/1997
7.	Viliame Iongi	Centre	20	4	0	0	0	United States	Esher	08/06/2011
	Kurt Morath	Fly-half	20	0	4	4	0	Fiji	Lautoka	02/07/2011
	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	20	1	3	3	0	Samoa	Nuku'alofa	01/07/2017
10.	3 players on 19 points

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

#	Player	Pos	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	25	5	0	0	0	South Korea	Nuku'alofa	22/03/2003
2.	Viliame Iongi	Wing	20	4	0	0	0	United States	Esher	08/06/2011
3.	Josh Taumalolo	Fly-half	15	3	0	0	0	Cook Islands	Nuku'alofa	05/07/1997
	Josh Taumalolo	Fullback	17	3	1	0	0	Georgia	Tbilisi	28/03/1999
	Jonathan Koloi	Flanker	15	3	0	0	0	South Korea	Seoul	04/05/1999
	Viliami Hakalo	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Cook Islands	Raratonga	24/06/2006
7.	46 players on 2 tries

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most matches as captain

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Draw	%	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop
1.	Nili Latu	Flanker	2006–2016	42	15	26	1	36.90	23	4	0	1	0
2.	Siale Piutau	Wing	2015-2019	19	9	10	0	47.36	22	4	1	0	0
3.	Inoke Afeaki	Lock	2001–2003	12	4	8	0	33.33	15	3	0	0	0
4.	Fakahau Valu	Flanker	1977–1987	11	0	11	0	0.00	12	3	0	0	0
5.	Aleki Lutui	Hooker	2004–2011	9	1	8	0	11.11	5	1	0	0	0
	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1999–2001	9	4	5	0	44.44	15	3	0	0	0
7.	Sione Mafi Pahulu	Number 8	1973–1975	7	1	6	0	14.28	15	3	0	1	0
8.	Siaosi Atiola	Number 8	1987–1990	6	1	4	1	25.00	4	1	0	0	0
9.	Mana Otai	Number 8	1995	5	3	2	0	60.00	5	1	0	0	0
	Fe'ao Vunipola	Hooker	1994–1998	5	2	3	0	40.00	0	0	0	0	0

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Youngest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	17 years and 292 days	Fiji	Nukualofa	24/03/1990
2.	Viliami Hakalo	(Wing)	18 years and 182 days	Japan	Fukuoka	04/06/2006
3.	Sione Kalamafoni	(Flanker)	18 years and 268 days	South Korea	Henderson	10/02/2007
4.	Soane Havea	Scrum-half	18 years and 292 days	New Zealand	North Shore City	16/06/2000
5.	Semi Taupeaafe	Wing	18 years and 317 days	Fiji	Suva	11/06/1991
6.	Sinali Latu	Number 8	18 years and 320 days	Fiji	Suva	07/07/1984
7.	Unuoi Va'enuku	Centre	19 years and 51 days	France	Pretoria	26/05/1995
8.	Pita Alatini	Centre	19 years and 119 days	Samoa	Nuku'alofa	08/07/1995
9.	Tevita 'Ahoafi	(Scrum-half)	19 years and 171 days	Australia A	Sydney	25/05/2007
10.	Isi Tapueluelu	Centre	19 years and 176 days	Fiji	Nuku'alofa	24/03/1990

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Oldest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1.	Fakahau Valu	Flanker	37 years and 362 days	Ireland	Brisbane	03/06/1987
2.	Polutele Tu'ihalamaka	Lock	37 years and 249 days	Canada	Napier	24/05/1987
3.	Aleki Lutui	(Hooker)	37 years and 95 days	Argentina	Leicester	04/10/2015
4.	Joe Tuineau	Lock	36 years and 302 days	Samoa	Suva	16/06/2018
5.	Hale T-Pole	Lock	36 years and 152 days	Namibia	Exeter	29/09/2015
6.	Elvis Taione	Hooker	36 years and 76 days	Canada	Lautoka	08/08/2019
7.	Rudi Kapeli	Hooker	35 years and 311 days	Australia	Brisbane	04/07/1993
8.	Tukulua Lokotui	Lock	35 years and 282 days	New Zealand	Newcastle	09/10/2015
9.	Vunga Lilo	Wing	35 years and 269 days	Georgia	Tbilisi	24/11/2018
10.	Kuli Faletau	Lock	35 years and 185 days	Canada	Nuku'alofa	03/07/1999

Last updated: USA vs Tonga, 13 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Kit history

Tonga usually wears a home kit consistent of a red shirt, white shorts and red socks and an away kit with the reversed colours. In the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Tonga wore an all-red home kit. Since 2007, Tongan traditional designs, similar to the ones found on the tapa cloths, were incorporated on the jersey design.

Kit manufacturers:

• 1974–1980s Umbro
• 1980s–1999 Canterbury
• 2000–2002 Carisbrook
• 2003–2005 Sekem
• 2005–2008 KooGa
• 2008 Samurai Sportswear^a
• 2008–2010 Aoniu^b
• 2011–2012 KooGa/BLK
• 2012–2015 Kukri
• 2016– Mizuno
• ^a Tonga wore Samurai Sportswear kits in the matches against Maori All Blacks and Japan in 2008
• ^b Tonga wore kits manufactured by the local brand Aoniu in the 2008 end-of-year international tours.

1987–1995 Home

1987–1995 Away

1999 RWC Home

2003 Home

2003 Away

2007 Home

2015 Home

2015 Away

2017 Home

2017 Away

Coaches

Name	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Draw	%
Fred Wolfgramm[6]	1985
Prince Mailefihi	1986-1987
Fakahau Valu	1995
Polutele Tuʻihalamaka	1999-2000
Vaita Ueleni	2000-2001
Jim Love	2001–2003	19	6	13	0	31.58
Willie Ofahengaue	2004–2005	8	0	8	0	0.00
Adam Leach	2006–2007	7	5	2	0	71.43
Quddus Fielea	2007–2010	16	5	11	0	31.25
Isitolo Maka	2010–2011	14	7	7	0	50.00
Toutai Kefu (caretaker)	2012	3	1	2	0	33.33
Mana Otai	2012–2015	24	11	12	1	47.91
Toutai Kefu	2016–

Notable former players

Inoke Afeaki Stanley Afeaki Sona Taumalolo Ipolito Fenukitau Salesi Finau Soane Tonga’uiha Taufaʻao Filise

Aisea Havili Pierre Hola Benhur Kivalu Nili Latu Sililo Martens Maama Molitika Mana Otai

Hale T-Pole Lisiate Tafa Epi Taione Josh Taumalolo Sateki Tuipulotu

See also

• Tonga national rugby league team
• World Cup
• Pacific Tri-Nations
• Pacific Nations Cup
• 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
• Pacific Islanders rugby union team
• Tonga Rugby Football Union

Notes

1. Haka and Sipi Tau set Lang Park alight ABC
2. "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
3. Tonga rugby stats
4. "Kefu names squad tasked with making history". rugbyworldcup.com. Rugby World Cup. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
5. "Tongan star Kurt Morath remains in a Sapporo hospital". Stuff New Zealand. Stuff New Zealand. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
6. "2019 Rugby World Cup Ikale Tahi Mate Maa Tonga Supporters Page". www.facebook.com.

Sources

• Tongan rugby history (from the BBC)
• The good and bad of Tonga (from the BBC)

External links

• Official site
• Tongan rugby union news from Planet Rugby
• Tongan Rugby News
• Details on Rugby WC's squads
• World Cup Preview
• Supporters website of The Pacific Islanders Rugby Team