Rugby union in Tonga | |
---|---|
Country | Tonga |
Governing body | Tonga Rugby Union |
National team(s) | Tonga |
Nickname(s) | Ikale Tahi |
First played | Early 20th century |
Registered players | 6,891 (total) 3,049 (adult) |
Clubs | 82 |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
Rugby union is the national sport of Tonga. Tonga are considered to be a tier 2 rugby nation by the International Rugby Board.
Tonga has four main rugby playing islands, Vava'u (which produced players like Epi Taione), Ha'apai (which produced players like Jonah Lomu), ʻEua (which produced the Vunipola family, eight brothers who all played for the national team), and Tongatapu the major island in the Tonga island group.