Tonga counting on its overseas rugby talent [1]
Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 10:00. Updated on Friday, February 19, 2016 - 13:53.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.
The rumour that two Tongan Rugby League stars, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona who are currently playing for the Bradford Bulls, in the United Kingdom may play for the ‘Ikale Tahi at the coming Rugby Union World Cup could become a reality according to Jim Love, the ‘Ikale Tahi’s coach.
Jim was in town for the ‘Ikale Tahi v Fiji game on July 12, and confirmed that the two players are keen to play for Tonga but in order for them to be released by their club, negotiation and a settlement had to be made.
The ‘Ikale Tahi has yet to finalise its 30 man world cup squad but one thing is certain that Tonga will not be able to field its best team because it has not got the financial resources to negotiate for the release of some of its top rugby players from overseas clubs.
The present ‘Ikale Tahi team is made up mostly of overseas players, who are playing for overseas clubs, but even at that level the Tonga Rugby Union still can’t afford to compensate players to leave their jobs and play rugby for Tonga.
After Tonga played Fiji, in Fiji, on July 5, only eight overseas players from that team were able to come to Tonga for their next game against the Fijians on July 12.
The ‘Ikale Tahi beat the Fijians 23-22, scoring two tries to only one by the Fijians, and it showed that with a carefully selected team from the players who are available Tonga can still cause an upset when it plays star-studded teams such as the Fijians.
But to have the likes of Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona to face the New Zealand All Blacks backline would be magic.