Tonga call up Hingano for PNC

Tonga have called up uncapped midfielder Mali Hingano for the Pacific Nations Cup following the withdrawal of Tasman’s Fetuli Paea. The 27-year-old Hingano is a native of Australia but qualifies for both Tonga and Samoa on ancestry. He is the only change to the 31-man Ikale Tahi squad.

Hingano played for Manly at age grade and senior levels, earning selection to the Australia u20 side for the 2012 Junior World Championship though he was forced to drop out due to injury ahead of he tournament. One of his teammates in that squad – UJ Seuteni – will play for Samoa in the PNC.

After playing for Sydney Rays in the National Rugby Championship, Hingano signed a two-year deal with La Rochelle in 2014. He then spent a season in Japan with the Honda Heat before returning to the Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne.

A move to Paris with Stade Français was next for the 2018-19 campaign and Hingano signed for Bayonne last month. The club has already prepared for his World Cup selection with the addition of England 7s cap Callum Wilson as a ‘World Cup joker’.

Meanwhile the Ikale Tahi have confirmed a test match against Fiji at the neutral venue of Eden Park in Auckland on August 31 as part of their World Cup preparations. It will be part of a double-header with Samoa playing the New Zealand Heartland XV.

FORWARDS
Paea Fa’anunu (Castres, FR), Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (Stade Francais, FR), Toma Taufa (Bayonne, FR), Paul Ngauamo (Agen, FR), Elvis Taione (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Sefo Sakalia (Asia Pacific Dragons, SG), Ma’afu Fia (Ospreys, UK), Siua Halanukonuka (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Ben Tameifuna (Racing 92), Leva Fifita (Grenoble, FR), Onehunga Havili (Exeter Chiefs, UK), Sam Lousi (Hurricanes, NZ), Steve Mafi (Castres, FR), Zane Kapeli (Bay of Plenty, NZ), Fotu Lokotui (Kagifa Samoa, WS), Nasi Manu (Benetton Treviso, IT), Sione Vailanu (Saracens, UK), Ma’ama Vaipulu (Castres, FR)

BACKS
Sami Fisilau (Auckland Marist, NZ), Leon Fukofuka (Kagifa Samoa, WS), Tane Takulua (Newcastle Falcons, UK), James Faiva (El Salvador, SP), Latiume Fosita (Kagifa Samoa, WS), Mali Hingano (Stade Français, FR), Otumaka Mausia (Auckland, NZ), Siale Piutau (Bristol Bears, UK), Nafi Tuitavake (Northampton Saints, UK), Viliami Lolohea (Papatoetoe, NZ), Afa Pakalani (Eastwood, AU), Cooper Vuna (Bath, UK), Tevita Halaifonua (Coventry, UK)

FIXTURES
Sat, Jul 27 – vs Samoa (Apia)
Sat, Aug 3 – vs Japan (Osaka)
Fri, Aug 9 – vs Canada (Lautoka)