A 15-member darts team will represent Tonga at the first South Pacific Darts Championships, to be held from 15-20 January 2018 in Vanuatu.

The Tonga Darts Association held their final fundraising event for the year lon Friday, 29 December at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel.

Team Manager, Tony Dilger said they have been fundraising throughout the year to help with costs and the team is excited to attend their first international darts competition.

Tonga has both men's and women's teams of seven players each.

Ladies Team: Sulia Perkins (Captain), Fine’eva Dilger, Rachel Taukei’aho, Losimani Lynch, Malia Cocker, 'Asupa Leota, and Alissa Lavakei’aho.

Mens Team: Neil Dalgety (Captain), Siosifa Taumoepeau, Peng Liu, Mathew Tu’utafaiva, Sione Manisela, Sione Paletu’a, and Charles 'Aho.

Seven Pacific nations to take part in the Dart Competition include Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu.

The six-day event will see Phil “The Power” Taylor, a 16 times World Champion present medals to the winning countries, increasing exposure to the competition in the South Pacific.

The Tongan team will depart for Vanuatu on 13 January 2018.