Dear Sir,

The reason that I am writing is that I have recently taken up work with a sports management company called athletes1, based in London. I am in charge of the Rugby Union division which means that I am currently the agent for about 40 professional rugby players, finding clubs for them, sponsorship deals, helping them with their finances, etc. My love for Tonga has meant that I have tried to help as many Tongan players as possible and recently for example I have secured a contract for Pila Fifita at Saracens (in our Premiership here), Sione Tu'amoheloa (in Division 2), Heamani Lavaka (Division 1) and most proudly of all, I have found clubs for three of the Under 21 Tonga team that were over here for the World Championships.

I feel that I can provide a great service for Tongan rugby players as I understand your culture but also have a sound grasp of the professional environment in Europe and what it takes to function in this environment. Whilst I realise that the exodus of rugby players from the Pacific Islands is a desperate situation, the vagaries of globalisation mean that it is only going to get worse before it gets better, and although I have a hand in bringing players over here, I feel that eventually this can only benefit your ruby union as well as Pacific Island rugby as a whole. Unlike in Australia and New Zealand, players of Polynesian extraction are highly unlikely to be 'naturalised' in Europe, which means that they are still available to play for their countries of birth. The only case I know of is that of Epeli Taione, who was selected for England U21s but turned them down and this is a very rare case indeed. I feel that by coming over to Europe, Tongan players can really benefit from learning new rugby skills, experiencing a completely new culture whilst still being available for their home unions and also earning more money than in Australia and New Zealand which ultimately means more remittances for the Tongan economy. Because of new laws in the European Union as well, players of Polynesian/Melanesian extraction no longer count as 'foreign' players which mean that teams here can play as many of them in a team as they wish. This is why a Premiership team in England such as Sale can sign Siua Taumalolo, John Payne and Sililo Martens and they can all be on the pitch at the same time.

I ask that any young (or not so young!) Tongan rugby players get in touch with me if they are interested in coming to the UK to play rugby and I will do my utmost to help them out.

I originally came to Tonga in January 1999 from the UK as a volunteer teacher at Tupou High School, first in Fasi and then in Vaololoa. On my first visit I stayed in Tonga for nine months and became so in love with your country that I have been back four times since, to visit friends, drink some kava and 'Ikale and see my old students. I have bored my friends and relatives over here with photos and stories of Tonga and, in fact, I have brought many of them out to visit the country, which they have also loved. You could say that although I am a palangi, I have some Tongan in me, and I intend to someday come back and live in Tonga again. I know many Tongans in the UK and always try and try to keep as in touch as possible with news of what is happening back in Tonga through websites such as yours and planet-tonga.com, keep up the good work.

Malo 'aupito

Tom Fowler

athletes1 Ltd

Suite 25 Bickels Yard

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