From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Tevita Vaikona, the British Super League star player was in Tonga for 17 days during November. He did not waste any time getting home to ‘Uiha, in Ha‘apai, “where as soon as the sun sets, the only thing to do is to go to sleep, there are no night clubs and no bars.”

Tevita said that in 1997 he was playing for Hull, where he established himself as the top tri-scorer of the British national competition, an achievement that awarded him with a three-year contract with the Bradford Bulls, Britain’s biggest club. Tevita now plays as centre-winger.

Tevita came home to see his parents, and as a second thought to look for future Mrs Vaikona. “In Britain, I don’t know. It’s hard to find a nice girl, I’m coming back to Tonga,” said the good-looking 24 year old. He is not just a rugby player; he is a man who knows exactly what he wants. He holds a Bachelor degree in Management and he is doing a second degree in Accountancy at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. Eventually he wants to return and work for the government of Tonga, and to pay back what he felt he owed them.

Tevita went to New Zealand on a government scholarship, where Super League scouts from Hull spotted him. They offered him a handsome contract—he did not want to reveal the amount—and so he went to the United Kingdom to play Super League. He said that the problem with Tongans who are playing professional rugby in the UK is not on the field. “Tongans are very athletic, they just need to get organised off the field, to have a solid life.”