'Ikale Tahi to play Korea in World Cup qualifier [1]
Wednesday, January 3, 2007 - 19:15. Updated on Monday, May 19, 2014 - 19:28.
The final 2007 Rugby World Cup repechage qualifier between the 'Ikale Tahi and South Korea will be played on January 27.
Ricky Mafi, a member of the Tonga Rugby Union, confirmed today that the venue for the match had not been decided, "but it will be in a neutral country, and may even be New Zealand."
Normally there should have been both a home and an away game.
"But South Korea do not want to come and play at Teufaiva again, so they opted for one match and the winner takes all, but it has to be in a neutral country."
Ricky said that the 'Ikale Tahi coach, Adam Leach was scheduled to arrive in Tonga this week, and there would be a trial match between the Tautahi and the Tau'uta to select a team for the qualifying game with Korea.
"So far there is only one overseas player, Nili Latu, who has made a commitment to be in the 'Ikale Tahi team to play South Korea."
If Tonga beats Korea and qualifies for the 2007 Rugby World Cup to be held in France, it will go into Pool A together with England, South Africa, Samoa and the USA.
Other commitments will be the Six-Nations Pacific Cup rugby tournament with teams from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, the Junior All Blacks, Australia and Japan, expected to start at the end of May or early June.
Ricky said that the Six-Nations would help the Tongan selectors to select their World Cup Team. "The Board has decided that Tongan Super 14 and NPC players can come straight into the 'Ikale Tahi, but club players have to come to Tonga and go through our trial process," he said.