The Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team is expected to arrive to Tonga on November 2 for an eleven day goodwill tour. The ASRU team is a representative rugby team for the Australian Defence Force selecting its players from personnel of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Australian servicemen will play two games against the Tonga Defence rugby team. The fixtures are set for November 6 and November 9, at Teufaiva Stadium.

Apart from the rugby, the tour is also a public relations mission for the Australian Military. The Australians will pay visits to Nuku’alofa Primary School and Tailulu College. They will also attend events for White Ribbon day (anti-Violence against women), and will meet Brigadier General ‘Uta’atu, commander of the Tonga Defence Services.

Both rugby teams are among the most highly ranked military rugby teams in the world. In 2011, the Tonga Defence rugby team made it to the Semi-finals of the International Defence Rugby Competition where they narrowly lost to the British Army 15 – 10. The ASRU made it to the finals of that competition where they to lost to the British Army.