ROSS Chapman the Chairman of Pacific Finance and Investments Ltd Group and Mark Gerrard of Royal Beer generously donated $40,000 pa'anga to the 'Ikale Tahi National Rugby Team, yesterday, Thursday 1 September.

Ross and Mark handed over their donation to the Tonga Rugby Union Authority Chairman Rev Tevita Latailakepa and Deputy Chairman 'Aminiasi Kefu at Loto Tonga, where the 'Ikale Tahi is camping.

Ross told Matangi Tonga Online today, 2 September, that their donation was a joint venture between his group of companies and Mark Gerrard of Royal Beer, the distributor of Heineken beer in Tonga. (Mark is the father of Wallaby fullback Mark Gerrard junior). Ross said that $10,000 of their $40,000 donation, came from the sales of red t-shirts from Leiola Duty Free outlets.

Ross an ardent supporter of the 'Ikale Tahi believed that the 'Ikale Tahi could do very well at the Rugby World Cup.

"We want the 'Ikale Tahi to do their best in front of the New Zealand crowd. It is great and an honour for Tonga to be selected to play in the opening match against the All Blacks, and I think any team can win the opening match" he said.

The Pacific Finance and Investments Ltd group of companies includes Office Equipment Ltd, Pacific Timber and Hardware Ltd, Leiola Group Ltd, Dateline Transam Ltd, Pacific Management Consultants Ltd and Courts (Tonga) Ltd.

The companies and 100 staff members initiated the Red Friday in July. The Red Friday fever has since spread and there are fans throughout Tonga and overseas, as far away as Oslo, Norway.

The Royal Beer's support for the 'Ikale Tahi's build up for the World Cup was the drawing of Heineken raffle for six people to see the opening match of the World Cup between the 'Ikale Tahi and the All Blacks. Winners get return tickets to Auckland, a ticket to Eden Park and two nights accommodation in Auckland.