Two Tongan women's rugby players, Siutiti Ma’ake (22) and Neomai Vunga (19) have been awarded Super W rugby contracts for Australian clubs in 2024, after being scouted at the 2023 Oceania Rugby Women's Combine.

They were among several women players to be awarded club contracts

Siutiti and Neomai don the jerseys of the Western Force and the Act Brumbies Super W Rugby clubs in 2024.

They are among the first women in Tonga Rugby Union to be awarded overseas clubs’ contracts.

Siutiti ventured into rugby in 2018, even though she had not played as a child.

"It was always a passion of mine. I grew up loving the game, but I didn’t play," she said.

Since then women's rugby has evolved in Tonga.

Richie Talia’uli, the National Development Manager for Tonga Rugby, said, "These girls are standing on the shoulders of women who played rugby and had to endure it the hard way.

"These girls are now creating new pathways for the next generations of women in rugby in Tonga," he said.