From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, who is not only the President of the Tonga Rugby Union but also chairs the interim group to manage, Tonga’s Rugby League affairs, had a few words to say about rugby in parliament this morning.

He thanked the ‘Ikale Tahi for its performance against the New Zealand All Blacks, at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, on Saturday, 3 July.

The ‘Ikale Tahi was crushed by the All Blacks 102-0 in the Tonga national team's first warm-up game, as it struggles to put a team together to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Tongan rugby union has been through a rough journey since competing in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

When the former President of the Tonga Rugby Union, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, passed away on 12 September 2019, his son, Siaosi Pohiva suceeded him as the president of the Tonga Rugby Union. Following his election Siaosi 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.”

On 25 September 2020 the World Rugby Ltd, the Tonga Government and the Tonga Rugby Union and the World Rugby Ltd signed a Tripartite Agreement for the release of two-thirds of the World Rugby Ltd's financial contribution to the tripartite agreement.

However, in early May 2021, the Tonga Rugby Union elected a new President of the Tonga Rugby Union, with the Prime Minister Tu'i'onetoa taking over from Siaosi.

In parliament this morning, Siaosi, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative said that he had taken the issue to Court, over how the Prime Minister was elected as the President of the Tonga Rugby Union.

The Prime Minister Tu‘i‘onetoa, however, has become an all-round rugby man, because, according to a Press Release from the Prime Minister’s Office, on 29 June 2021 he became the Chairman of an interim group to manage, Tonga’s Rugby League affairs, until a Rugby League governing body is established next year.