Achieving some impressive wins over some of New Zealand's toughest secondary school teams, Tonga's Under 14, 15 and 16 national rugby teams returned home yesterday, September 19, after a successful two weeks tour of New Zealand.

In a welcome home ceremony at the Queen Salote Memorail Hall yesterday afternoon, the Director of the Ministry of Sports, Taniiela Fusimalohi praised the fine performance by the "future 'Ikale Tahi players" against some of the toughest schools in New Zealand.

Highlights from the New Zealand tour were Tonga's U14 defeating Auckland Grammar 10-0, and their thrashing of Kelston Boys 46-15, Papatoetoe High School 30-13, and Mangere College 32-7.

The Tonga U-15 also did very well by defeating Kelston Boys High 17-10, thrashed Aorere College 22 to 6 and then convincingly downed the 2011 Auckland District U15 champion, Sacred Heart College 20 to 3.

Tonga U-16 also has its fair share of winning matches. It defeated an Under 17/18 mixed team from Botany Downs Secondary School 39-5, and it drew 23 all with Waiheke. Tonga U-16 was also scheduled to play the 2011 Champion Tangaroa College, and according to Taniela, Tangaroa conceded defeat, rather the playing and losing.

The three teams played 17 games against Secondary Schools in Auckland and Northland, and won 11 games. They were made up of 82 players and six officials. They were awarded certificates for their accomplishments by the Minister of Training, Youth and Sports Hon Fe'ao Vakata.

Scholarships

Taniela said that the tour of New Zealand was a long and tiring campaign but it was a worthwhile experience for the players "to learn mental endurance, and mental toughness in unfamiliar and extremely cold conditions.

"It was also worth it because seven boys have been considered for scholarships to play and study in colleges in New Zealand in 2011 - and this number is expected to double in the next several weeks when schools finalise their decisions on who they will offer scholarships to."