By Pesi Fonua

The Tonga Rugby Union has elected the Prime Minister as its new President on Friday, knocking out the current President Siaosi Pohiva, who had held the post since 2019.

The two candidates for the role were Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, who was nominated by Tongatapu sub-union, and Tom Fa nominated by the Vava'u sub-union. The PM won the election with 34 votes against 4 votes for Fa.

TRU disaster

Siaosi Pohiva told Matangi Tonga last week that when he became TRU President in 2019, he vowed to reform the Tonga Rugby Union, “and get out from the disastrous situation that it has got itself into during the past few years.”

He pointed out that the financial situation of the TRU had not been audited since 2015.

However, some representatives were disgruntled over the way the 2019 election was conducted, and its legitimacy was challenged in the courts.

This morning, Manu Mataele, a representative of the Tongatapu sub-union, explained that he and other TRU sub-union representatives were not allowed into the 2019 election to vote. They filed a case with the court, claiming that the 2019 election was illegal.

However, the battle is not over yet, and Siaosi Pohiva said he had filed a counter case with the court.

All Blacks and Lions matches

Meanwhile, Peter Harding, The Tonga Rugby Union CEO, who was appointed by the World Rugby Ltd, said the ‘Ikale Tahi is scheduled to play the New Zealand All Blacks in Auckland on 3 July and the British Lions in November.

Locally, Tonga is gearing up to celebrate the centenary of the Rugby Union in Tonga this year.

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See also:

10 November 2020, Tonga Rugby Union on a reform mission [2]

3 January 2020, Locked-out Tonga Rugby Union members protest “unconstitutional” AGM [3]