Results for Sports

Tonga’s Cabinet has ordered the cancellation of Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games today as the contract was between government and the Pacific Games Council. They stated that the reason for cancelling the hosting of the Games in Tonga is based on an old IMF Report in 2013 where it is reported that Tonga’s deficit will widen considerably.

The Tonga government does not have the right to cancel hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, said Lord Sevele, chairman and CEO of the 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee. “It is a prerogative of the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee TASANOC and the Pacific Games Council, not Government (Tongan Government),” he told Matangi Tonga today.

Mate Ma’a Tonga front-rower, Leilani Latu, has opened-up about the tears he shed while waiting in the entrance tunnel of Cambelltown Stadium and during the Tongan national anthem at last weekend’s Pacific Test thriller in Australia.

Tongan-raised Pita Taumoepenu of Pea, has been drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He is among three football players of Tongan descent who were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft on April 27 – 29. The two others are Stevie Tuikolovatu from Utah and Sam Tevi from Texas.

Twenty-year-old Sione Vea of the Toloa Old Boys Rugby Club is the only domestic player in the Mate Ma’a Tonga team to face Fiji tomorrow. His selection is part of a development resolve to ensure domestic representation in the Mate Ma’a Tonga team. If Tonga were to dominate Fiji Bati, Sione Vea could get some playing time and a chance to shine.

American Football is attracting Tongan Women in Australia. This coming June, four women of Tongan descent will represent Australia at the 2017 American Football World Cup (IFAF World Championship) in Canada.

Manu Vatuvei has been named in the Mate Ma’a Tonga squad to play Fiji Bati this Saturday, May 6. He has never represented Tonga before and is set to make his debut alongside Will Hopoate.

Mate Ma’a Tonga has announced it’s squad for this Saturday’s highly anticipated Pacific Test against Fiji Bati in Campbelltown, NSW. Fiji Bati has not yet announced it’s lineup.

Tonga won a gold and two silver medals, in the heavy-weight categories at the 2017 Oceania Judo Championships this afternoon. Ineti Felemi won gold and Fungataau Mafi won silver in the women’s over 78kg; while Finetuui Moala won silver in the men's over 100kg, at ‘Atele Indoor Stadium, April 28.