Two former All Blacks and a former Wallaby are included in a number of players considered to represent Tonga Sevens at the Olympic Sevens Repechage tournament next month in Monaco.

Tonga men’s sevens coach Tevita Tu’ifua told Radio New Zealand, “we have got a few (high profile) names pop up and we still need to rank our priorities list and then we work from there to finalise our selection.

"There's a lot of things behind the scenes that we all collaborate together on the management side of things and even coaching and playing."

He said this includes allowing players who are switching their international allegiance to play for Tonga’s ‘Ikale Tahi team, to take part in the sevens tournament. These players must also have a Tongan passport and complete a three-year stand down period.

Tevita has been working with ‘Ikale tahi coach Toutai Kefu to decide which players need to be capped through the sevens programme.

"I still take on board his input for people we need to consider on selection to make them available for Tonga, the guys who need to be capped.”

“That's a priority for us as well for our programme, (players) who need to be available for 'Ikale Tahi post Monaco,” he said.

"That's always been part of my goals for the sevens programme since day one is just building that bridge as a pathway to our main fifteen-a-side 'Ikale Tahi."

A 15-man training squad will be named soon with the final 12 players selected.

"We're at the stage of cutting down the squad to finalising probably in the next few days or within a week."

Last month, Tonga Rugby Union announced that only players based in Europe would be selected for the tournament due to travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Repechage event

Tonga has been included in pool A with Samoa, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Mexico for the Olympics repechage event in Monaco on 19-20 June.

While France, Hong Kong, Chile, Uganda and Jamaica are in pool B.

Auckland-based Tevita will not travel to the tournament and has arranged another coach and team manager to support the team.

He said Tonga will try their best.

"We still need to go in with the mindset of doing well."

"The result will look after itself if we are able to put a good plan that fits the profile of the players and making sure they prepare well for this tournament."