The World Rugby Ltd., last week approved the release of two-thirds of its financial contribution to the Tripartite Agreement with the Tonga Government and the Tonga Rugby Union that was signed on 25 September 2020.

The agreement brought back the support of the World Rugby Ltd, one of the main sources of revenue for the Tonga Rugby Union.

Peter Harding, who was elected as the new CEO for the Tonga Rugby Union, in December 2020, said yesterday that the World Rugby released only two-third of its financial aid because the TRU had only a short-term budget plan when the Tripartite Agreement was signed.

The Tongan Government is the other main source of finance for the Tongan Rugby Union.

The Tripartite Agreement is a commitment by the signatories to meet the high level requirements and performances measures for Tonga’s rugby high performance programme during the 2020-2024 period.

Peter has been affiliated with the Tongan Rugby Union since 2012, and became the CEO of the Tonga Rugby Union at the end of 2020. He said there is a lot of work to be done.

Top of the list, is for the Tonga Rugby Union to re-establish itself  as a good investment. “The World Rugby Ltd. regards its contribution to Tongan Rugby as an investment, and if it is misused they will withdraw their contribution.”

For Tonga to maintain its participation in international rugby competition is a very expensive investment. The insurance policy for the ‘Ikale Tahi players to participate in the World Cup competition cost 125,000 English Pounds, he said

Besides the expenses for Tongan teams to participate in the 15s and the seven-a-side international competitions to keep the Tonga Rugby Union in operation is an expensive exercise.

“We have the Tongan Rugby Union and its board of directors, and we also have the TRU with its staff and our responsibility to keep the TRU in operation.”

Peter’s short list of the urgent working agenda for TRU:

1. A Head Coach for the ‘Ikale Tahi, to be announced on Friday, 26 March.
2. Clean up the Tongan Rugby Union office and select new staff.
3. Reviewing the Tongan Rugby Union Constitution.
4. A woman representative (without a voting right) in the Tongan Rugby Union.
5. The celebration of the 100 years of rugby in Tonga in May, with inter-islands groups rugby competition in Nuku’alofa.
6. Tonga Rugby Union becoming a member of the Pacific Rugby Players Union that was established in 2012, with its head office in Suva, Fiji.
7. The Seven-a-side men's team to participate in an international competition in June.
8. The ‘Ikale Tahi to play Manu Samoa in July.