Local rugby tournament offers $200,000 in cash prizes [1]
Monday, December 29, 2008 - 09:54. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 19:06.
The 2008 Lavengamalie Rugby Tournament currently being held in Nuku'alofa is offering the biggest prize money in a local tournament with combined prizes worth $200,000.
The President of the Lavengamalie Ex Students' Association, the organiser of the tournament, Sangster Saulala, said there are three tournaments held at the end of the year.
The Under 11 tournament earlier in December had a $3,000 cash prize, won by the Young Spartans of Ha'ateiho.
The Under 17 tournament ended on Friday, December 12 with Toloa as the winner. They defeated Silapeluua 14-11 in the finals at the Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium to win a $5,000 cash prize.
Lavengamalie Cup
The third tournament, the Lavengamalie Cup, began its first round before Christmas. Various rugby clubs throughout Tongatapu and a New Zealand team are competing for the $30,000 grand prize at the completion of the tournament on January 10.
Sangster said the team in second place would get $20,000 with the third to receive around $10,000 in cash prizes. There would be other cash prizes as well.
This program started in 2000 organised by the Lavengamlie ex students with a first prize of $10,000 to the winning team. It was the first time a tournament had been held with such an enormous money prize.
The competition continued to be held annually apart from last year.