Results for Sports

Tonga's 30-member 'Ikale Tahi squad for the Rugby World Cup in Australia in October was announced by the Chairman of the Tongan Rugby Union, Tu'ivanuavou Vaea in Nuku'alofa at the end of August.

Kefilini Tu‘alau (19) and Margaret Tupou (25) are ground-breaking pioneers in Tonga Heavy Weight Lifting. The two women became the first women ever to represent Tonga in the Super Heavy Weight Division during the 2003 Commonwealth, Oceania and South Pacific Heavy Weight Competition held in May. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

The rumour that two Tongan Rugby League stars, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona who are currently playing for the Bradford Bulls, in the United Kingdom may play for the ‘Ikale Tahi at the coming Rugby Union World Cup could become a reality according to Jim Love, the ‘Ikale Tahi’s coach. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.

The executive members of the Tonga Rugby Football Union are facing the difficult task of restructuring Tongan rugby and fostering the image of Tonga as a great rugby nation. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

If money talks, then what professional sports people are saying these days is that soccer will replace rugby as Tonga’s national sport in the near future. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Tonga’s team for the South Pacific Games in Fiji next year will receive support worth $20,000, which has been pledged by the Managing Director of Colonial Insurance, Mike Walsh. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Bob Wallace the Secretary General of the International Rugby Board visited Tonga at the end of July, as part of a tour of Oceania that took him to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The Tonga Sumo Federation is starting off the 21st Century with a big bang. Two young Tongan wrestlers Tevita Taufa of Nomuka and Minaminoshima Falevai of Ha‘ateiho in early January joined professional Sumo wrestling stables in Japan, and at the same time a Japanese Sumo coach, Mr Miyazaki started coaching future Tongan Sumo wrestlers in Tonga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

Tonga came away from the second Junior Sumo World Championship that was held in Tokyo on August 19 with two medals—a silver for Kesomi ‘Aukafolau in the Open, and a Bronze for Minaminoshima Falevai, Middleweight.. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.