Tonga Men qualify for Hong Kong 7's [1]
Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 23:33. Updated on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 - 11:43.
The Tonga Men’s Rugby 7s team have qualified to play in Hong Kong after winning all of their games on the final day of Oceania Rugby Sevens Championships today in Suva, Fiji. The woman’s team lost all of their final day fixtures.
The Tonga Men’s 7s team pulled off decisive victories in all of their matches; defeating Nauru 31 – 5, New Caledonia 27 – 7 and the Cook Islands 19 – 0. Tries were scored by Young Pongi, Siaosi Manufekai, Patelesio Oneone, Palu Fihaki, Seilame Tukuafu, Taniela Na’a and Unaloto Kaloni.
The Tonga Women’s 7s team were decisively defeated by Papua New Guinea (PNG) 32 – 0, Samoa 14 – 7 and the Cook Islands 27 – 0. Ofa La’akulu scored the teams only try against Samoa. A lack of discipline proved costly for the girls; Tolini Kofutu’a and Tu’utafaiva Atamaama were yellow carded in the game against PNG, another two yellow cards were awarded against Tonga in their game against the Cook Islands.
Gold Medallists Fiji won the Grand Final of the Oceania Championships after they defeated Samoa 28 - 19.
Australia were ranked first in the women’s tournament after thrashing the hosts Fiji in the final 31 – 0.
Tonga Men’s Rugby Sevens Results:
Men’s Team
Tonga def Nauru (29 – 5)
Young Pongi (2), Unaloto Kaloni, Siaosi Manufekai, Palu Fihaki
Tonga def New Caledonia (26 vs 7)
Taniela Na’a, Unaloto Kaloni, Seilame Tukuafu, Patelesio Oneone
Tonga vs Cook Islands (19 – 0)
Patelesio Oneone (2), Sunita Fihaki