The Head Coach of the 'Ikale Tahi, 'Isitolo Maka and his newly appointed assistant, Toutai Kefu are on a ten-day tour of France and the United Kingdom to meet and talk with Tonga's European based players and the officials of the clubs that they are playing for.

The Tonga Rugby Union Authority (TRUA) stated last week, April 29 that 'Isitolo and Toutai arrived in the UK on April 29 and were leaving on the same afternoon for Bordeaux. They would also travel to Agen, Perpignan, Aix-en- Provence, Toulon and Lyon before returning to the UK on Thursday evening and visiting Manchester and London.

The Chairman of the TRUA, Bob Tuckey, said that the trip to Europe by the coaches was warranted in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

"Most importantly, the coaches will take the opportunity to discuss with the players’ clubs the ‘Ikale Tahi timetable for tournaments and camp assemblies and check on the players’ injury profile and conditioning programmes,” he said.

It is understood that ‘Isitolo will return to Tonga via New Zealand where he will spend a number of days catching up with some of the New Zealand based players.

The Southern Hemisphere contingent for the Churchill Cup will leave Tonga for London on 1 June 2011 for assembly in London is on 3 June. Following the Churchill Cup, the ‘Ikale Tahi will participate in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), now scheduled to be held in Fiji. The change in venue was due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the north-east coast of Japan on March 11. The PNC will be held in Fiji from 2-13 July between Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Japan.