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Home > Lord Fakafanua, Semisi Sika lead new Rugby League Board

Lord Fakafanua, Semisi Sika lead new Rugby League Board [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, May 18, 2020 - 21:24.  Updated on Thursday, June 4, 2020 - 18:41.

Tonga Ma'a Tonga Rugby League Board, (standing) Pita Ha'angana, Sosaia Liufau, Matani Nifofa, Sosaia Penitani, Vilisoni Ngalu, John Paul Chapman, (sitting) Semisi Sika and Lord Fakafanua, 'Utulau Rugby Club, 'Utulau. 15 May 2020. Photo: Ikani Taliai.

Lord Fakafanua has been elected President of the new Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League (TMTRL) Board, and Semisi Sika elected Chair during a general meeting on Friday, 15 May, at ‘Utulau Rugby Club.

Local businessman John Paul Chapman was elected as Finance and Compliance Director.

A Board spokesperson, Vilisoni Ngalu, told Matangi Tonga that 22 out of 24 rugby league club members voted, while two clubs had sent in their apologies.

Lord Fakafanua and Semisi Sika were candidates for the position of Chair, with Semisi receiving the most votes, 15 – 7 for the role. While Lord Fakafanua and John Paul were unanimously voted in as President, and Finance and Compliance Director respectively.

Five director-nominees from the rugby league clubs were also voted onto the TMTRL board. They include Sosaia Liufau as Deputy Chair, Sosaia Penitani, Matani Nifofa, Pita Ha'angana, and Vilisoni Ngalu.

The elected members join Sika Manu and Will Hopoate who were elected by the national team squad earlier this month as player representatives on the new board.

The meeting also confirmed the adoption of a new TMTRL constitution.

TMTRL will now apply for membership of the International Rugby League (IRL).

Meanwhile, the former governing body of rugby league, Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL), which was expelled from the IRL membership in March 2020, has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

George Koloamatangi who is the chair for TNRL told Matangi Tonga on 16 May they "are waiting confirmation of a date that our case will be heard".

The IRL has indicated they will contest this appeal.

The Government of Tonga issued a press statement today, 18 May confirming it will not engage further with the IRL until a decision has been made by CAS, citing it will abide by any decision of the Court.

The rugby league clubs based in Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua that voted for the new board are:

  1. Ma'ufanga
  2. Havelu
  3. Lapaha
  4. Hihifo
  5. Te'ekiu
  6. Kolonga
  7. Liahona
  8. Navutoka
  9. Tokomololo
  10. Makaunga
  11. Nakolo
  12. Vaotu'u
  13. Fo'ui
  14. ‘Eua
  15. Ha'apai
  16. Houma
  17. ‘Utulau
  18. Ha'ateiho Crusaders
  19. Ha'asini
  20. Matahau
  21. Afaa
  22. Ha'ateiho Spartan
  23. Ha'akame
  24. Fahefa
Rugby Club representatives at the Tonga Ma'a Tonga Rugby League Board general meeting, 'Utulau Rugby Club. 15 May 2020. Photo: Vilisoni Ngalu
Tonga [2]
Tonga Rugby League [3]
International Rugby League (IRL) [4]
Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) [5]
Sports [6]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2020/05/18/lord-fakafanua-semisi-sika-lead-new-rugby-league-board

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2020/05/18/lord-fakafanua-semisi-sika-lead-new-rugby-league-board [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-rugby-league?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/international-rugby-league-irl?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-national-rugby-league-tnrl?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/topic/sports?page=1