By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

A team of NRL talent agents from a New Zealand sports management agency, Inventus, is currently in Tongatapu, meeting and attending training with students from different secondary schools. During their short visit, two students from Tupou College Toloa were offered Rugby League scholarships to study and play in New Zealand. Among the five-member talent scouts is Tonga’s only accredited NRL player agent, Amon Ta’akimoeaka.

Amon and the team visited Tupou College this morning where they presented two scholarships to two students, whose names remain under wraps for now. The team also gifted rugby equipment for the school, including cameras, training cones, balls and others equipment.

Tupou College Toloa were the champions of the 2023 Intercollegiate Rugby Championship and along with Tonga College ‘Atele, and 'Apifo'ou College, have some of the top student players on Tongatapu.

They held a training session to look at student players from other secondary schools at Hala Ano, Kolomotu’a field. Each school presented 5-10 of their best players. They said a crucial characteristic that talent agents are looking for in a player is “self-discipline”.

However, the senior students (Form 6-7) were unable to participate in today’s trial sessions as they are still sitting their National Exams.

The return of the NRL talent agents to Tonga marks the resumption of their previous efforts in creating NRL pathways for the new and younger generations. The last time they were in Tongatapu was just before the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2019-2020.

“We’re not here to sell false hopes, we’re here to do reality checks,” said Amon. He's determined to do annual visits with the agemts at least twice a year, starting next year.

The agents arrived in Tongatapu last night  and will return to New Zealand tomorrow, 11 November.