Legendary rugby coaches Sir Graham Henry and Wayne Smith are in Tonga along with their timber business partner Siliva Payn, with a full agenda.

The trio arrived in Tonga on Tuesday night, 7 February and will stay until Saturday, 11 February. They have been giving out rugby equipment for secondary schools, training local coaches while also doing a promotional tour for their business Anga'ofa Timber.

Sir Graham Henry along with Wayne Ross Smith as rugby coaches have won a number of world cups for New Zealand. Nicknamed 'Ted', Henry along with Smith led New Zealand’s All Blacks to win the 2011 and 2015 World Cup. Wayne Smith also as head coach of the New Zealand women's team, the Black Ferns, won the 2021 World Cup that was held in 2022.

The Directors of Anga’ofa Timber, Ted and Smith are touring the kingdom with business partner Siliva Payn.

They will be visiting schools; Tonga college, Tupou college and Takuilau College. They will be assisting and providing certain equipment and stationery essential for rugby training which a lot of schools in Tonga lack. Some of this equipment includes about 80 rugby balls from Auckland Rugby.

They will also be giving free lessons and training for local coaches to attend, passing on knowledge and skills.

When asked if they were planning to recruit young players from Tonga, Siliva Payn said that was something they might do in the future.

“The problem is timing, we are focusing on promoting and pushing education right now but, hopefully on our next trip back we’ll consider it.”

Smith said that although they are not recruiting any players at the moment, rugby clubs are eager to offer jobs and accommodation for some new recruits.

Their advice for our Tongan players is to know how to play it safe in the field. “The safest way is the most effective way,” said Smith. “Learn techniques that will take you far in the game not just three years.”

The visitors hope to have had a positive impact on Tonga’s economy and to give back to the people in the most effective way possible.