Big cash prizes for Jesus 2000 Rugby Tournament [1]
Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 10:00. Updated on Monday, February 1, 2016 - 18:46.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.
The $52,000 in cash prizes given at the Jesus 2000 Rugby Tournament in January amounted to the biggest prize ever offered for rugby in Tonga.
The tournament was part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Lavengamalie College, with the prizes and Lavengamalie Cup contributed by ex-students.
It was a tough tournament for the 12 teams competing in temperatures of over 30o C for the first prize of $10,000 and the trophy, which was won by the Toa-ko-Ma’afu. Other prize-winners were: Fasi—Ma’ufanga $7000; Lavengamalie $5000; the Police $3000.
In the plate category, Ha‘ateho won the first prize of $3000, and Kolomotu‘a $2000; Hihifo $1500; and Vava‘u $1000.
The Bowl category was won by Vaini with a cash prize of $1000, Hawai‘i $800; Kolofo‘ou $700; and New Zealand $600.
The President of the Tonga Rugby Union, Tu‘ivanuavou Vaea was thankful for the generous contribution that the Lavengamalie Old Boys made toward the development of rugby in Tonga.