A True Test Match: Tonga (13) vs. Sāmoa (42) World Cup Qualifier ^Featured

Auckland, New Zealand – After the 102-0 unentertaining affair a week earlier against the All Blacks, Tonga’s ‘Ikale Tahi was a more competitive international team against Manu Sāmoa this past weekend. The boys played more like international test caps against their own class.

Reduced to school-boy rugby level against the mighty All Blacks is not a bright idea. For even in a losing effort against Manu Sāmoa, these ‘Ikale Tahi players played as professionals better than a week earlier. Logistically, it’s a miracle they managed to come together. Kudos to the Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) organizers.

Despite the fact these are professional-level players from various professional clubs in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere leagues, national union teams are more superior units. The New Zealand All Blacks’ blend of rugby tops all larger unions.   

TRU might stick to preserving the traditional inter-island competitiveness: Tonga, Sāmoa, Fiji, and the Māori All Blacks. A brighter idea is to be inclusive with other Pacific Islands such as Rarotonga, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii must be developed.

Māori All Blacks Are Worthy Opponents

Pacific Islands rugby must take pride competing against their own class, and more realistically gain accomplished milestones. Rather than reduced to self-induced embarrassment playing against the likes of the All Blacks, the international test matches must be played more in the islands.

The Māori All Blacks should be a fixed opponent in the inter-island rugby competitions. Not as a substitute for the New Zealand All Blacks, but rather a suitable island side. The last time I checked New Zealand is still a Polynesian group of islands, with the Māori people the indigenous race.

There is succinct pride winning against the Māori All Blacks than getting thrashed by the New Zealand All Blacks. Developing Tahitian, Rarotongan, and Hawaiian are other Pacific Island groups needing inclusion. There is keen interest in the establishment of a Hawaii professional North American Major League Rugby organization.

Bring Home the Bacon

Rugby World Cup qualifiers need to be played at home stadiums. Post Covid-19 schedules must bring the qualifying matches to each home pitch. Most Pacific Island folks can have the pleasure of witnessing live games at their home field albeit TV broadcasting availability. Most of them cannot afford such luxuries but they are the parents of future national ruggers.

Additionally, islanders’ home stadiums must be modernized to invite more visiting competitions. It’s a positive contribution to improving the local tourism industry. Teufaiva Sports Stadium in Nuku‘alofa, for example, failed two international inspections in 2016 to seal a Welsh Rugby Union Tour. That is a lost revenue “no-brainer” to the local economy.

Tonga should realize rugby is a big marketing draw for international competitions. Overseas fans, and the media traveling with their national side are potential tourist visitors. That’s bringing the bacon home when overseas national sides bring tourism dollar to the local economy.

Other sporting events must be attracted to the islands bringing more tourists and overseas islanders’ dollars. There is total neglect for hosting events which do attract more Tongans living overseas to come home – who make up the bulk of arriving tourists each year.

They contribute remittances more to Tonga’s gross domestic product (GDP) account than any other existing Tongan industry. While tourism contributes less than 10%, and agriculture/fishing less than 20%, expatriates’ remittance contributes 40% of GDP.    

[Mr. Mokofisi is a veteran journalist in the Tongan media and the international press. He played school rugby at Liahona High School-Tonga; played club rugby for Nukunuku Rugby Club-Tonga; played college varsity rugby at BYU-Hawaii; served as president of Alaska Rugby Union, and president of Utah Rugby Union. He also holds USA Rugby coaching and officiating credentials. He writes and follows the North American Major League Rugby and international test matches.)