Tonga’s national women’s rugby union team will play Fiji tomorrow, Friday, in their opening match of the 2018 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in Lautoka, Fiji.

The regional tournament features four national teams from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga. Team Tonga enters the tournament for the first time since its inauguration in 2016.

Bruce Cook, General Manager of Oceania Rugby said in an official statement that the tournament serves to promote Women’s Rugby in the Pacific.

“It will provide an opportunity for our aspiring young women from the region to represent their countries and play regular International Test Rugby”, Cook stated.

"To have four teams from across the Pacific, here in Fiji, we hope will encourage more women and girls to pick up the ball and start playing rugby."

Tonga will play Fiji tomorrow 16 November, Samoa on 20 November, and Papua New Guinea on 24 November.