Tonga national rugby union team
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| Nickname(s) | ʻIkale Tahi |
|---|---|
| Emblem | White dove |
| Union | Tonga Rugby Football Union |
| Head coach | Toutai Kefu |
| Captain | Siale Piutau |
| Most caps | Nili Latu (43) |
| Top scorer | Kurt Morath (338) |
| Top try scorer | Fetu'u Vainikolo (15) |
| Home stadium | Teufaiva Sport Stadium |
| World Rugby ranking | |
| Current | 15 (as of 21 November 2016) |
| Highest | 9 (2011) |
| Lowest | 20 (2006) |
| First international | |
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Tonga 9–6 Fiji (Nuku'alofa, Tonga; 25 August 1924) |
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| Biggest win | |
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Tonga 119–0 South Korea (Nuku'alofa, Tonga; 22 March 2003) |
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| Biggest defeat | |
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New Zealand 102–0 Tonga (Albany, New Zealand; 16 June 2000) |
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| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 7 (First in 1987) |
| Best result | Pool stage, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 |
| Website | www.tongarugbyunion.net |
The Tonga National Rugby Union team is 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.
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 travelled to the Arms Park for a non-cap international against Wales, a game that ended in a 26–7 defeat.
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