Tonga’s national sevens team has come out with mixed results in the Uprising Fiji Sevens Tournament that ended on Saturday, January 19, in Lautoka, Fiji.
The two-day event saw Tonga reach the quarterfinals of the tournament, but suffer some heavy defeats.
Tonga succeeded in the qualifying stages of the tournament, winning two out of its three pool matches. But on the second day and final stages of the tournament Tonga lost its standard when it got knocked out of the cup quarters by local “Ministry of Health” Wardens 7 - 22 and getting thumped by Samoa 32 – 0 in the Plate-Semis.
An ironic twist in Tonga’s performance, however, was its pool victory against eventual champions Fiji Barbarians. It was the Barbarian’s only defeat in the Tournament, showing an existing potential in the Tongan Squad as they prepare for the upcoming International Wellington Sevens on February 3.
Tonga’s Sevens Squad is being trained by former Fijian Sevens couch, Etuate Waqa.
The results were
January 18, Qualifying Stages
Tonga 7 – 24 Lici Police
Tonga 31 – 7 Lomaiviti
Tonga 17 – 14 Fiji Barbarians
January 19, Quarter-Finals
Tonga 7 – 22 Wardens
Plate Semi-Finals
Tonga 0 – 32 Samoa
