“The Tonga Rugby Union Board endorsed the unanimous choice of the Joint Management Committee to offer Toutai Kefu the position until the Rugby World Cup in 2023,” the TRU stated.

Totai was ‘Ikale Tahi Head Coach for the period 2016 until 2019 leading the team to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan

Of 35 applicants for coach, the TRU was convinced that Toutai was the right man for the task based an independent review of his coaching ability, which concluded that, “Toutai led a positive team culture . . . which positively impacted performance”.

“In addition, statistically Tonga was ranked either second or third among Tier 2 nations in every significant statistical category, sharing these positions with Fiji. Only Japan ranked higher than these two nations. ”

The Chief Executive Officer for the Tonga Rugby Union, Peter Harding said that Toutai Kefu, as the coach of the ‘Ikale Tahi will commence immediately, “as the race in on to select a staff and a squad for the RWC qualifiers in New Zealand in July.”

In addition to this Kefu will play an active role in forming and promoting an interactive pathway for coaches and other staff.