A national 7-a-side Rugby League team to represent Tonga at the World Sevens League tournament in Sydney at the end of January was announced in Nuku'alofa on January 8.

The 10-member team was selected following a two-days trial at Teufaiva Stadium on January 6-7 between 14 Tongatapu league teams.

The three selectors of the Mate Ma'a Tonga 7-a-side team were the coach Lopeti 'Uhatafe, the assistant coach Willy Wolfgram, and Don Furner, a former coach of the Fijian national league team. The manager of the team is Ngatu Lui. The assistance of Willy and Don was made available to Tonga with the courtesy of the Canberra Raider league club, Canberra, Australia.

The Tongan team leave Tonga on January 16 for Canberra they will be put through a very intensive training regime before they leave for Sydney for the World Seven League, which will run for two days from January 24-25. The Mate Ma'a Tonga will be competing with 30 teams for the World title and a cash prize of $100,000.

Willy said that following the tournament the team will return to Canberra where they will form a 13-a-side team together with Canberra based Tongan league players to play against other clubs in Canberra. Willy was hopeful that the local boys would impress Canberra Raiders selectors and possibly get contracts to play for the Raiders.