The Tongan 'Tala' will arrive in the United Kingdom in London ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with supporters from across Wales and England expected to gather at Heathrow Airport to welcome the national netball team.
The Tala squad is scheduled to arrive Wednesday morning at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX251 after departing Sydney earlier this week.
Tonga will face Wales in a public warm-up match at the House of Sport in Cardiff on July 19, before heading to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.
Tala's communications and logistical support staff member Glenda Tu'ipulotu has called on the Tongan community to unite in welcoming the team, saying it is an opportunity to show the players the mafana (warmth) and pride of Tongans living abroad.
The Vunipola sisters will be performing sing as the team arrives for the match and Tongan youth will perform during half-time.
Following the match, the Tongan community will host a celebration at Zion Hall Community Centre in Pontypool before the team departs for Glasgow on July 21 to begin its Commonwealth Games campaign.
Despite being a relatively small community in the UK, Tongans are hoping to create a memorable reception before the team travels by private coach to Cardiff, where it will complete its final preparations.
Tu'ipulotu thanked families, friends and volunteers whose support helped make the team's journey possible, she also acknowledged the support of the Tongan government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Sports), the Tonga Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), and the Australian government through Netball Australia's PacificAus Sports program.
