The Tonga Rugby Union Authority wishes to inform the public that it intends to commence fund raising appeal for the purposes of preparing the Tongan national rugby team, ‘Ikale Tahi, for its participation this year in the Churchill Cup in the United Kingdom, the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan, a two-test series with Fiji, and most importantly the IRB’s Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

Funds collected will be used for travel costs for assembling players from all over the world, player and specialist coach allowances, team outfitting, outside of the playing and training gear, and also other costs which the Authority is responsible for during these international games.

The fund raising appeal will consist of appeals for public donations to the local communities here in Tongatapu and the outer islands, and also the Tongan communities overseas. Directors and former players will be visiting villages to appeal for and collect donations.

The timetabling of the fund raising appeal is set out below based on the electoral constituencies:

Thursday 7 April 2011 Tongatapu 5 and 6
Thursday 21 April 2011 Tongatapu 7 and 8
Thursday 5 May 2011 Tongatapu 9 and 10
Saturday 7 May 2011 Tongatapu 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the Outer Islands (National Appeal)

Following the local and national fund raising activities, two directors of the Authority will be travelling to the Tongan communities in the United States including Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand to continue the fund raising appeal.

The Authority will also be opening a new bank account to be known as the “RWC 2011 Fund Raising Account”, with the Westpac Bank of Tonga, for any person to donate funds directly. The details of the account will be made available next week.

The Chairman of the Authority’s Fund Raising Committee, Mr Fakahau Valu stated that, “TRUA appreciates that people are struggling financially due to the current economic conditions affecting the world. This however is a national appeal for support to prepare our national team to represent His Majesty and the people of Tonga on the world stage, in the third biggest sporting event in the world. This is one of the events that bring us Tongans together no matter where we are, no matter our differences. We appeal for all Tongans to come forward and show your Tongan character by uniting our hearts and soul behind our ‘Ikale Tahi. Please become an ‘Ikale Tahi supporter”.

The Authority wishes to acknowledge all the assistance regarding fund raising provided by all supporters to date, particularly Fine Tohi and Dateline Transam Shipping for sponsoring the Authority’s weekly television and radio programme.

The Authority would also like to invite any supporter who wants to come forward and assist in the fund raising activities.

The Authority hopes that the hearts and prayers of all Tongans will be put forward in support of these efforts to continue the performance of its duty in the interest of rugby union for Tonga. Tonga Rugby Union Authority, 31/03/11.