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International medals;
; Pacific Games;

Tonga
	; ;
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;
	;
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; First colours;	; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Second colours;
	;
World Rugby ranking
Current	; 13 (as of 21 May 2018);
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	; 7 (First in 1987)
Best result	; Pool stage, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015;
International medals;
; Pacific Games;
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.

History

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 flattened 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, 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 their greatest home victory, a 20–16 defeat of France in Nukuʻalofa over a touring France but in 2000 they were humiliated 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. Despite keeping Wales to 20–27, they were again thrashed by New Zealand 91–7.

In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, winning 2 of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, in one of the most memorable and exciting games of the tournament, eventually going down 30–25.

Tonga achieved one of the greatest 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

Like a lot of the big Pacific rugby nations, Tonga has a pre-game war dance (Haka). The Sipi Tau is a form of the Kailao. Tonga perform the kailao/Sipi Tau prior to the commencement of a match. The kailao was originally a war dance that was imported to Tonga from Wallis Island. It is usually performed at both public and private ceremonies.

One of the most memorable performances in modern times of the Sipi Tau was 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 it, 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 v t e
Top 30 rankings as of 8 October 2018^[2]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		New Zealand	092.96
2		Ireland	090.12
3		Wales	085.94
4		England	085.68
5		South Africa	083.52
6		Scotland	083.02
7		Australia	082.86
8		France	079.10
9		Argentina	078.01
10		Fiji	076.54
11		Japan	075.24
12		Tonga	073.84
13		Georgia	073.13
14		Italy	072.56
15		United States	071.66
16		Samoa	068.28
17		Romania	068.25
18		Uruguay	065.37
19		Russia	064.89
20		Spain	063.09
21		Hong Kong	060.46
22		Namibia	059.97
23		Canada	059.93
24		Portugal	058.30
25		Belgium	058.09
26		Brazil	056.81
27		Netherlands	056.52
28		Kenya	055.71
29		Germany	055.59
30		Chile	054.36
*Change from the previous week
Tonga's historical rankings

Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 2 July 2018^[2]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 16 June 2018.^[3]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	1	0	1	0	0%	16	45	−29
Australia	4	1	3	0	25%	42	167	−125
Australia A	1	0	1	0	0.00%	15	60	−45
Canada	8	3	5	0	37.50%	155	193	−38
Chile	1	1	0	0	100.00%	32	30	+2
Cook Islands	3	3	0	0	100.00%	235	22	+213
England	2	0	2	0	0.00%	30	137	−107
England XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	17	37	−20
Fiji	91	27	61	3	29.67%	1218	1780	−562
France	5	2	3	0	40.00%	75	149	−74
Georgia	6	2	4	0	33.33%	132	99	+33
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	17	9	8	0	52.94%	446	418	+28
Junior All Blacks	2	0	2	0	0.00%	23	77	−54
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100%	55	35	+20
New Zealand	5	0	5	0	0.00%	35	326	−291
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	64	27	33	4	42.19%	956	1119	−163
Scotland	4	1	3	0	25.00%	58	136	−78
Scotland XV	2	0	2	0	0.00%	13	67	−55
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
United States	9	8	1	0	88.89%	241	134	+107
Wales	8	0	8	0	0.00%	84	227	−143
Wales XV	1	0	1	0	0.00%	7	26	−19
Zimbabwe	1	1	0	0	100.00%	42	13	+29
Total	273	106	160	7	38.83%	4977	6136	-1159

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	Automatically qualified
2019	Qualified							4	1	0	3	68	93
Total	7/8	25	7	0	18	405	861	31	12	0	19	1210	736

Current squad

On 21 May, Toutai Kefu named a 30-man squad for the 2018 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup and their June test match against Fiji.^[4]

Head Coach: Toutai Kefu

Caps Updated: 23 June 2018

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player	Position	Date of Birth (Age)	Caps	Club/province
Sione Lea	Hooker	(1987-01-12) 12 January 1987 (age 31)	5	Clifton
Paul Ngauamo	Hooker	(1990-02-19) 19 February 1990 (age 28)	15	Agen
Sosefo Sakalia	Hooker	(1991-12-14) 14 December 1991 (age 26)	5	Steaua București
Paea Faʻanunu	Prop	(1988-11-04) 4 November 1988 (age 29)	7	Dax
David Feao	Prop	(1990-10-06) 6 October 1990 (age 28)	3	Narbonne
Vunipola Fifita	Prop	(1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 (age 22)	0	Souths
Siegfried Fisiihoi	Prop	(1987-06-08) 8 June 1987 (age 31)	5	Stade Français
Siua Halanukonuka	Prop	(1986-08-09) 9 August 1986 (age 32)	8	Glasgow Warriors
David Lolohea	Prop	(1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 (age 26)	1	West Harbour
Ben Tameifuna	Prop	(1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 (age 27)	6	Racing 92
Daniel Faleafa	Lock	(1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 (age 29)	17	Colomiers
Leva Fifita	Lock	(1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 (age 29)	8	Grenoble
Steve Mafi	Lock	(1989-12-09) 9 December 1989 (age 28)	27	Castres
Joe Tuineau	Lock	(1981-08-18) 18 August 1981 (age 37)	30	Dax
Michael Faleafa	Flanker	(1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 26)	5	Perpignan
Fotu Lokotui	Flanker	(1992-03-19) 19 March 1992 (age 26)	5	Patumahoe
Maama Vaipulu	Flanker	(1989-07-21) 21 July 1989 (age 29)	4	Castres
Nasi Manu	Number 8	(1988-08-15) 15 August 1988 (age 30)	3	Benetton
Valentino Mapapalangi	Number 8	(1993-07-18) 18 July 1993 (age 25)	8	Leicester Tigers
Sonatane Takulua	Half-back	(1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 (age 27)	28	Newcastle Falcons
Shinnosuke Tu'umoto'oa	Half-back	(1994-06-11) 11 June 1994 (age 24)	3	NEC Green Rockets
Kurt Morath	First five-eighth	(1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 (age 33)	33	Utah Warriors
George Taina	First five-eighth	(1995-10-21) 21 October 1995 (age 23)	2	Pakuranga United
Latiume Fosita	Centre	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 26)	27	Papatoetoe
Siale Piutau (c)	Centre	(1985-10-13) 13 October 1985 (age 33)	34	Bristol
Nafi Tuitavake	Centre	(1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 (age 29)	11	Northampton Saints
Sione Fifita	Wing	(1990-04-17) 17 April 1990 (age 28)	1	Parramatta
Penikolo Latu	Wing	(1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 25)	5	University of Waikato
Viliami Lolohea	Wing	(1993-07-04) 4 July 1993 (age 25)	3	Papatoetoe
Cooper Vuna	Wing	(1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 (age 31)	8	Worcester Warriors
David Halaifonua	Fullback	(1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 (age 31)	28	Coventry Rugby

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–	46	45	1	23	4	0	1	0	18	27	1	37.50
2.	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–	42	39	3	87	12	3	7	0	19	23	0	45.23
3.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0	15	26	0	36.58
4.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	317	11	68	39	3	13	26	0	33.33
4.	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	1998–2005	39	35	4	40	8	0	0	0	14	24	1	37.17
6.	Aleki Lutui	Hooker	1999–	38	30	8	25	5	0	0	0	12	25	1	32.89
7.	Manu Vunipola	Scrum-half	1987–1999	36	31	5	9	2	0	0	0	12	23	1	34.72
8.	Fe'ao Vunipola	Hooker	1988–2001	34	32	2	15	3	0	0	0	13	20	1	39.70
9.	Ephraim Taukafa	Hooker	2002–2011	33	17	16	30	6	0	0	0	14	19	0	42.42
9.	Viliami Vaki	Lock	2001–2008	33	26	7	35	7	0	0	0	9	24	0	27.27

Last updated: Italy vs Tonga, 26 November 2016. 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–	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–	42	39	3	87	12	3	7	0
4.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	317	11	68	39	3
5.	Fepikou Tatafu	Centre	1996–2002	23	21	2	50	10	0	0	0
6.	Viliame Iongi	Wing	2011–	21	15	6	45	9	0	0	0
7.	Benhur Kivalu	Number 8	1998–2005	39	35	4	40	8	0	0	0
7.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0
9.	5 players on 7 tries

Last updated: Italy vs Tonga, 26 November 2016. 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–	30	25	5	338	2	47	78	0
2.	Pierre Hola	Fly-half	1998–2009	39	38	1	317	11	68	39	3
3.	Sateki Tu'ipulotu	Fullback	1993–2003	20	19	1	190	5	33	32	1
4.	Fangatapu Apikotoa	Fly-half	2004–2014	30	20	10	147	2	40	19	0
5.	Josh Taumalolo	Centre	1996–2007	26	23	3	118	14	6	12	0
6.	Gustavo Tonga	Fullback	1996–2001	13	12	1	114	1	32	15	0
7.	Sonatane Takulua	Scrum-half	2014–	20	18	2	88	7	10	11	0
8.	Vunga Lilo	Fullback	2007–	42	39	3	87	12	3	7	0
9.	Fetu'u Vainikolo	Wing	2011–	28	27	1	85	17	0	0	0
10.	Fepikou Tatafu	Centre	1996–2002	23	21	2	50	10	0	0	0
10.	Elisi Vunipola	Fly-half	1990–2005	41	40	1	50	8	2	2	0

Last updated: Italy vs Tonga, 26 November 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.