TONGA – BACK IN BLACK

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The Tonga 1924 rugby union team was the first international rugby team to represent the island nation of Tonga. The team was made up of players from the Tongan royal family and other members of high society, as well as a few European expatriates living in Tonga at the time.

The team travelled to New Zealand in 1924 to play a series of matches against local clubs and regional representative teams. Despite facing much larger and more experienced opposition, the Tongans acquitted themselves well, winning several of their matches and earning the respect of their opponents.

One of the most notable performances of the tour came in a match against the Auckland Province team, in which the Tongans won 6-0. This victory was particularly significant as it was the first time a team from Tonga had ever defeated a team from New Zealand.

The tour also saw the Tongans play against the All Blacks, the national team of New Zealand. Although they were defeated by the All Blacks, the Tongans impressed with their physicality and skill on the field.

The 1924 tour was a significant event in the history of rugby in Tonga, as it helped to establish the sport as a popular and respected pastime in the country. It also served to raise the profile of Tonga on the international stage and helped to pave the way for future generations of Tongan rugby players to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Known as ‘Ikale Tahi’ which means “Sea Eagles” in English. The team is governed by the Tonga Rugby Union, which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). Tonga has been playing international rugby since the 1930s and has competed in every Rugby World Cup since 1987.