Photos by Linny Folau

Traffic jammed Tongatapu's main roads and the island came to a standstill this morning as crowds turned out to greet the national rugby team, the 'Ikale Tahi after upsetting France 19-14 in Wellington last Saturday night in what was probably the most exciting rugby match in Tonga's history.

What was supposed to be only a 30 minutes drive from the airport to downtown Nuku'alofa took three hours as the main road was jammed with vehicles and people lining the roads. The bus carrying the players and management had to be escorted by police officers some walking beside the bus all the way from the airport to keep the excited fans from overwhelming the returning players.

Arriving along with Team Manager 'Aminiasi Kefu, Head Coach 'Isitolo Maka, were the 'Ikale Tahi Captain Finau Maka, and players Kurt Morath, Sione Kalamafoni, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, Viliame Iongi, Viliami Ma'afu, Fetu'u Vainikolo, 'Alipate Fatafehi and Ephraim Taukafa.

The airport came to a standstill, and along the route to town thousands of schoolchildren, women dressed in Tongan mats, and fans danced on the road in a red frenzy. Decorated vehicles formed a float parade with mad red fans running on foot, playing rugby on the road, while others came on bicycles and even tractors.

The team made a special stop at the Alonga Centre for the handicapped at Pea.

In Tongatapu the population had, it seemed, self-proclaimed today October 3 as a national holiday, and lthough offices and schools were open they emptied when almost everyone went out to the streets.

An official welcome was held this afternoon at Tu'imatamoana Fish market attended by the Hon Frederica Tuita and Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano. Thousands flocked to Vuna Road and to the fish market to welcome their rugby heroes home, after a day written down in rugby history for Tonga.