World Rugby has stopped providing funds indefinitely to Tonga Rugby Union which means 'Ikale Tahi is now without coach Toutai Kefu.

Toutai told Matangi Tonga today that the issue at the moment is only with the Tonga Rugby Union regarding noncompliance and a list of a number of issues unresolved over the last four years.

Tonga’s rugby future now depends on a tri-partite deal between World Rugby, Tonga Rugby Union, and the Tongan Government.

According to the ABC Pacific Beat, under the deal, an interim management team would take over the running of the game until the issues with the current administration, headed by interim Chief Executive Fe'ao Vunipola, are resolved.

But until then, Tonga’s status as a tier two nation beside Fiji and Samoa is at risk as they could be downgraded to a tier three nation (development status) where there is not much money to go around.

The downgrade would affect all levels of rugby union in Tonga.

“At the moment, our grassroots and developmental pathways have been stagnant already for the last 4 years. What it [downgrade] would do is severely affect our ability to invest into our grass roots in the near future which is what we plan to do moving forward,” said Toutai.

“More importantly it would severely affect our National Team's ability to perform.”

Toutai is keen to see better governance for Tonga Rugby Union going forward.

“I would like to see competent governance guided by our constitution, compliant with World Rugby guide lines and void of nepotism and corruption,” he said.

In the meantine, Toutai will be busy in his newly appointed role as head coach of the Asia Pacific Dragons for the World Ten Series [2].

The series is a ten-a-side rugby tournament set to start in Bermuda from 24 October to 7 November, with eight teams including the Asia Pacific Dragons. Following that, there are plans to expand the series to 16 teams across 12 locations in 2021.