The Tonga National Men's Volleyball Team will be flying out on Monday May 18 to Chinese Taipei to represent Oceania Region as champions and also Tonga in the second round of the Qualifying Championship.

The team manager, Sione Fonua said that the team won Tonga the first ever gold medal for Indoor Volleyball at the regional level last month.

In Volleyball World there are 219 countries registered to the FIVB World Body, and currently Tonga is ranked 92 in the World Ranking where New Zealand is ranked 110. "Winning this last competition will move Tonga up in the ranks," said Sione.

At the second round of the competition in Chinese Taipei, Tonga will play Chinese Taipei (ranked 40) on 22 May; Kazakhstan (ranked 33) on 23 May; and United Arab Emirates (ranked 66) on 24 May.

"Tonga is once again the dark horse at the competition, which means they won't know what to expect, and that gives us the advantage. Tonga will take each team as it comes."

Sione said unfortunately the team is wearing borrowed blue uniforms after their red Tongan uniforms went missing.

"It's really unfortunate that someone has taken our national uniform from the office that it was locked at in Australia because the team is now without uniforms, so if anyone out there that would love their company name exposed throughout Asia, Europe, Americas, South America and the Pacific - the Tonga Volleyball National team is still with out a uniform sponsor. We are asking for any support because it will be televised throughout these regions," he said.