Tonga Rugby World Cup Team
The Tonga rugby team are nicknamed Ikale Tahi - meaning ‘Sea Eagles’. The Tongans start their matches with a war dance - the Kailao (aka the Sipi Tau), like their neighbours from Samoa.
They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa - but unlike their neighbours they have not performed particularly well at Rugby World Cup events. In 1991 they were invited. 1991 They did not qualify for the World Cup, but since then the Tongans have been able to qualify for the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cup events. Their record at this event is not that great - with the only memoriable moments standing out is their victory against the Ivory Coast - but this game is remembered for the wrong reasons. Max Brito was left in a wheelchair after a freak neck injury during the game.
Tonga are ranked 16th in the world.
Rugby World Cup Pool A - Tonga Matches
| Date | Team A | Team B | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-09-08 18:00 |
England | USA | Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2007-09-09 16:00 |
South Africa | Samoa | Parc des Princes, Paris Referee: Paul Honiss |
| 2007-09-12 14:00 |
USA | Tonga | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Referee: Stuart Dickinson |
| 2007-09-14 21:00 |
England | South Africa | Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Joël Jutge |
| 2007-09-16 16:00 |
Samoa | Tonga | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2007-09-22 14:00 |
South Africa | Tonga | Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| 2007-09-22 16:00 |
England | Samoa | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Referee: Alan Lewis |
| 2007-09-26 20:00 |
Samoa | USA | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| 2007-09-28 21:00 |
England | Tonga | Parc des Princes, Paris Referee: Alain Rolland |
| 2007-09-30 20:00 |
South Africa | USA | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Referee: Tony Spreadbury |