Welsh Rugby Union officials visit run-down Teufaiva Stadium [1]
Friday, December 9, 2016 - 19:44
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and World Rugby officials visited Tonga earlier this week to assess whether the Teufaiva Stadium and medical facilities are adequate to host Welsh players on their tour of the South Pacific in 2017.
Tonga's run-down Teufaiva Stadium grounds and facilities need upgrading for the 2019 Pacific Games.
But WRU chairman, Gareth Davies told the BBC that works may not be completed in time for the Welsh team’s visit.
If Teufaiva Stadium is not brought up to standard for players, then Tonga will play Wales in New Zealand instead.
A World Rugby spokesman also told the BBC that although they had a representative visit Tonga, “World Rugby is not contributing to the funding of that ground construction”.
Today Matangi Tonga contacted Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Tonga Rugby Union about the assessment, but no comment was made about the outcome of the visit.
Teufaiva Stadium, in its current state is not up to par to host international rugby games and so far upgrade works have not started.
Samoa on the other hand is scheduled to host Wales on Saturday 24 June 2017.