Tonga national rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team () represents Tonga in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ÃÂ»Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles) and is governed by the Tonga Rugby Union. Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans precede their matches with a traditional challenge Ã¢ÂÂ the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19Ã¢ÂÂ14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.

History

Rugby was brought to the region in the early 20th century by sailors and missionaries, and the Tonga Rugby Football Union was formed in late 1923. Tonga beat Fiji 9Ã¢ÂÂ6 in their first test in 1924 played in the capital NukuÃÂ»alofa. However, Tonga lost the second test 14Ã¢ÂÂ3 and drew the decider 0Ã¢ÂÂ0.

Between 1924 and 1938 Tonga and Fiji played three test series every alternate year. Matches between the two Pacific nations were hard fought; many have claimed that the ancient feuding wars between the Islanders were transplanted onto the rugby field. Troubles during the third Test of Fiji's 1928 tour to Tonga forced the game to be abandoned with Tonga leading 11Ã¢ÂÂ8. In 1954 Tonga played host to a touring Western Samoa.

Tonga beat New Zealand Maori in 1969, but had to wait until 1973 before they played their second test match, a 30Ã¢ÂÂ12 defeat against Australia in Sydney. They got their revenge when they beat Australia in Ballymore, Brisbane 16Ã¢ÂÂ11, scoring four tries to two in June 1973. The following year they traveled to the Arms Park for a non-cap international against Wales, a game that ended in a 26Ã¢ÂÂ7 defeat.

The first Tongan tour to Great Britain was in 1974, when they played 10 games, including those in Wales against East Wales, Llanelli, North Wales, Newport, West Wales and a Wales XV. The only tour victory was by 18Ã¢ÂÂ13 in the opener against East Wales. The 'tests' were lost by 44Ã¢ÂÂ8 to a Scotland XV and by 26Ã¢ÂÂ7 to the Wales XV.

They remained a little-known quantity in Europe until 1986, when Wales embarked on a tour of Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa. Early in the game against Tonga, Welsh flanker Mark Brown was knocked over by three Tongan forwards, leading to a mass brawl involving the entire team except Malcolm Dacey and Mark Titley. Robert Jones describes the event in his book Raising The Dragon as "the worst brawl I have ever seen on a rugby field." At the post-match dinner Jonathan Davies was asked to give a few words in Welsh and as the hosts politely applauded he described them as "the dirtiest team I have ever played against"

Tonga were drawn to play Wales again in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The previous meeting, plus the decision to rest some of the leading players, led to a poor Welsh performance though they managed to win 29Ã¢ÂÂ16. Tonga lost its other two games to Ireland (32Ã¢ÂÂ9) and Canada (37Ã¢ÂÂ4).

They failed to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. In 1994 they won the South Pacific championship on try count and so qualified for the Super 10, in which they finished bottom of their pool with only one point.

They qualified for the 1995 World Cup ahead of Fiji on points difference. Tonga managed only two victories in the next two World Cups, against the 29Ã¢ÂÂ11 CÃÂ´te d'Ivoire in 1995 and Italy in 1999. The win over the CÃÂ´te d'Ivoire brought tragedy when Ivorian winger Max Brito was left paralysed.

June 1999 brought a 20Ã¢ÂÂ16 defeat of France in Nukualofa over a touring France but in 2000 they were defeated 102Ã¢ÂÂ0 (including 15 tries) by New Zealand.

After losing their first four matches to Fiji and Samoa, Tonga finished third in the Oceania qualifying group. As a result, they had to play home and away matches against Papua New Guinea, which they won 47Ã¢ÂÂ14 and 84Ã¢ÂÂ12, followed by a play-off against South Korea, who finished as runners-up in the Asian section. Tonga thrashed them 75Ã¢ÂÂ0 and 119Ã¢ÂÂ0.

At the 2003 Rugby World Cup Tonga lost all their games and finished bottom of their pool. Although they kept Wales to 20Ã¢ÂÂ27, they were again thrashed by New Zealand 91Ã¢ÂÂ7.

In 2007 Tonga participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, winning two of their pool matches and nearly defeating the eventual champions, South Africa, before losing 30Ã¢ÂÂ25.

Tonga achieved one of the most unexpected victories in Rugby World Cup history with their 19Ã¢ÂÂ14 win over France in the 2011 World Cup.

On 24 November 2012, Tonga beat Scotland, at Pittodrie Stadium, 21Ã¢ÂÂ15 for their first victory over a traditional rugby power on a European pitch.

Sipi Tau

Like several Pacific rugby nations, Tonga has a pre-game war dance, called the Sipi Tau. It is a form of the Kailao, which was originally a war dance that was imported to Tonga from Wallis Island. It is usually performed at both public and private ceremonies.

During the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, in Tonga's match against New Zealand, the All Blacks began their traditional haka, and then Tonga answered to the haka through the Sipi Tau while the All Blacks were performing, bringing the teams within metres of one another just prior to kick-off.

Performance

Overall record

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tongan national XV at test level up until 17 October 2025.

World Cup record

Pacific Nations Cup

Tonga previously competed in the Pacific Tri-Nations winning three tournaments. The Pacific Nations Cup replaced the Tri-Nations tournament in 2006. Tonga have yet to win a tournament.

Wins against Tier 1 nations

Tonga have recorded six wins against tier 1 opposition.

Players

Current squad

On 6 November, Tonga named a 30-player squad ahead of their November test against Scotland.

Head coach: Tevita TuÃÂ»ifua

Caps Updated: 22 November 2025 (after Scotland v Tonga)

Coaches