The Tonga Rugby Union Authority's administration of Tongan national rugby ends on February 28, but a new board is not expected to take over until the end of April.
'Aminiasi Kefu, Tonga's Solicitor General, and TRUA Deputy Chairman, told Matangi Tonga Online on January 26 that when the TRUA administration ends on February 28, the Union will be reactivated. The Authority's directors would then become interim Tonga Rugby Football Union directors until the Union's first AGM in April.
In the meantime, a transition process is starting with a second consultation on a draft Constitution being held throughout Tonga from now until early February. 'Aminiasi said a draft constitution would be finalised at the end of February, before the TRUA Annual General Meeting.
New Constitution
The new constitution is expected to be adopted during a special meeting called by the new Union at the end of March. By early April, after its adoption, an Annual General Meeting would be called under the new Constitution.
At the end of April, the AGM will elect the new directors under the new constitution. Representatives from Tonga's rugby sub-unions will elect the new board, and then the new directors will elect the new chairman of the board.
'Aminiasi said when the new board comes into control, the IRB funding should continue as normal under a Tier 2 development program. "I am not sure if government will provide assistance, because it will no longer be involved," he said.
On January 18, Hon Sunia Fili the Minister of Finance, also Minister for the Rugby World Cup 2011, held a meeting with rugby club representatives, referees and interested people on January 18 at the Basilica to deliberate on the draft constitution.
Concerns
TRUA was established by Government in 2010 under a TRUA Ordinance, which expires in February, to address the IRB's concerns over the way the union was run and how the constitution was applied.
The ordinance spelled out many reasons for its establishment and one was the lack of resolution of litigation, and threats of further litigations in the then TRFU governing body over rugby. This caused disharmony and took apart rugby union stakeholders from players, supporters and administrators beyond negotiation, which threatened the national sport being played in Tonga and abroad.
TRUA then came in to protect the game of rugby union and to ensure that the management of the game was performed in accordance with international standards and practices and the IRB laws and regulations.
