Tonga Rugby World Cup Tickets
Victory over the Cook Islands, following two defeats to Samoa, led to Tonga's key play-off clash with Hong Kong over the summer, which saw Sonatane Takulua score three tries in a comfortable 44-22 win.
That means Tonga will take part in their ninth Rugby World Cup in 2023 and will hope to finally crack qualification from the pool stage, having failed to do so in any of the previous eight attempts.
Tonga start the World Cup by facing in-form Ireland in Nantes before clashing with Scotland in Nice and then South Africa in Marseille. Head coach Toutai Kefu will hope that victory can come in their final Pool B clash against the unfancied Romanians in Lille.
Tonga Represented In Leagues Across the World
The quality of Tonga rugby is improving, and it's worth noting that a number of the current squad play in a league other than in their homeland. Both Vaea Fifita and Sam Lousi are playing at the Welsh side Scarlets and experienced captain Takulua plays at the French side, Agen.
Where do Tonga Rank Among Rugby Union Sides In Their Region?
Tonga are part of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa, and when compared against those two nations, Tonga national rugby is perhaps a little behind their local rivals.
Their records against both Fiji, 27 wins to 63 losses, and Samoa, 27 wins to 37 losses, is an illustration of Tonga's slight inferiority, but it is worth noting that in eight World Cup finals, Tonga have collected wins in six competitions.
Wins against Tier 1 nations are however fairly infrequent, the last of which came in 2016 when they defeated Italy 19-17.
In 2011 they achieved arguably their best-ever result when they defeated France at the World Cup in New Zealand, 19-14.
